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US forces strike two empty Iranian oil tankers, Central Command says

By Reuters Reuters
FILE PHOTO: People gather as smoke rises at the Industrial Area after reported Iranian missile attacks, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, in Doha, Qatar, March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People gather as smoke rises at the Industrial Area after reported Iranian missile attacks, following United States and Israel strikes on Iran, in Doha, Qatar, March 1, 2026. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem/File Photo Mohammed Salem Reuters

The U.S. military struck two empty Iranian-flagged oil tankers on Friday that it said were seeking to violate the ongoing U.S. blockade, U.S. Central Command said in a post on X, adding that a third Iranian-flagged vessel had been disabled on Wednesday.

"All three vessels are no longer transiting to Iran," Central Command said.

(Reporting Ismail Shakil; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Daphne Psaledakis)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 7:45 AM.

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