{"id":83338,"date":"2026-05-20T18:22:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T18:22:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2026\/05\/20\/us-marines-board-and-redirect-iranian-flagged-tanker-amid-ongoing-blockade\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:49:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:49:43","slug":"us-marines-board-and-redirect-iranian-flagged-tanker-amid-ongoing-blockade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2026\/05\/20\/us-marines-board-and-redirect-iranian-flagged-tanker-amid-ongoing-blockade\/","title":{"rendered":"US Marines board and redirect Iranian-flagged tanker amid ongoing blockade"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. Marines intercepted and redirected an Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker they suspected of evading the U.S. Navy blockade on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded the M\/T Celestial Sea as it traveled in the Gulf of Oman, potentially toward an Iranian port. They searched the ship and forced it to alter its course in adherence with the blockade, according<\/a> to U.S. Central Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cU.S. forces continue to fully enforce the blockade and have now redirected 91 commercial ships to ensure compliance,\u201d CENTCOM said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. military forces have also disabled four vessels since the U.S. Navy blockade began on April 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A U.S. Navy F\/A-18 Super Hornet from USS George H.W. Bush launched<\/a> \u201cprecision munitions\u201d at the smokestacks of two Iranian-flagged unladed oil tankers on May 8 as they transited toward an Iranian port in violation of the U.S. Navy blockade.<\/p>\n\n\n\t