Iranian Navy Approaches US-Flagged Tanker in Strait of Hormuz | Reuters

Dubai, February 3, 2026 – A U.S.-flagged tanker was approached by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, maritime sources and security consultancies reported. The incident, occurring approximately 30 kilometers north of Oman, raises fresh concerns about maritime security in the strategically vital waterway.

Vanguard Tech, a British maritime risk management firm, stated that the Iranian gunboats hailed the tanker, identified as the Stena Imperative, ordering it to stop its engines and prepare for boarding. According to Vanguard Tech, the vessel increased speed and continued on its course, avoiding boarding and remaining outside of Iranian territorial waters. The Stena Imperative is currently under escort by a U.S. Warship.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the incident, stating that two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached the tanker at high speed, threatening to board and seize the vessel. Captain Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said the guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul responded immediately, providing defensive air support and escorting the tanker. “The situation de-escalated and the U.S.-flagged tanker is proceeding safely,” Hawkins stated.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center earlier reported an incident involving a possible “state activity” forcing a vessel to alter course into Iranian territorial waters, without initially specifying the ship’s nationality or the identity of the approaching vessels.

Later on Tuesday, Iranian state media, via the semi-official Fars News Agency, reported that Iranian officials claimed a ship had entered Iranian territorial waters without the necessary permits. According to these officials, the vessel was warned but departed the area “without any special security incident.” This account differs from reports from U.S. And British maritime security sources.

The Stena Imperative was en route to Bahrain, with an expected arrival at the port of Sitrah on February 5, according to MarineTraffic data. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between the U.S. And Iran, and days ahead of anticipated negotiations, though the nature of those talks remains unspecified.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies. Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, and Qatar – all members of OPEC – rely on the Strait to export the majority of their crude oil, primarily to Asian markets. Approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil consumption passes through the waterway daily, making it a focal point for geopolitical risk.

This incident is the latest in a series of maritime tensions in the region. Iran has seized three vessels – two in 2023 and one in 2024 – either near or within the Strait of Hormuz. Some of these seizures followed similar actions by the United States involving tankers linked to Iran. The cycle of detentions underscores the escalating risks to commercial shipping in the area.

The recent seizure of the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Talara on Friday, February 2, 2026, by Iranian forces also remains a point of concern. A U.S. Defense official confirmed the Talara was turned into Iranian territorial waters, marking the first such interdiction in months. Flight-tracking data analyzed by the Associated Press showed a U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton drone observing the seizure for hours. Columbia Shipmanagement, the tanker’s manager, reported “losing contact” with the vessel, which was carrying high sulphur gasoil.

Ambrey, a private security firm, described the assault on the Talara as involving three small boats. The British military’s UKMTO acknowledged the incident as a possible act of state activity.

The repeated incidents in the Strait of Hormuz highlight the ongoing vulnerability of international shipping to disruption and the potential for escalation in a region already fraught with geopolitical tensions. While the immediate situation involving the Stena Imperative appears to have de-escalated with U.S. Military intervention, the broader pattern of Iranian actions raises concerns about the security of vital trade routes and the stability of the global energy market.