WASHINGTON: The United States military has confirmed that it intercepted an Iranian-flagged oil tanker, identified as the M/T Stream, during a recent maritime operation in the region.
According to US Central Command (Centcom), the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta stopped the tanker after it allegedly attempted to sail towards an Iranian port on Sunday.
In a post shared on social media, accompanied by an image showing both naval vessels at sea, Centcom stated that the operation forms part of what it described as a “US blockade of Iranian ports”.
Guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) enforces the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports against M/T Stream after it attempted to sail to an Iranian port, April 26. pic.twitter.com/mPCIp5rLlO
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 28, 2026
The statement did not provide further details regarding the cargo, crew, or the current status of the tanker following the interception.
The development comes amid ongoing heightened maritime tensions in the region, where naval forces have increasingly monitored commercial and state-linked shipping activity.
Centcom’s announcement underscores Washington’s continued enforcement of maritime restrictions it associates with Iran, though Tehran has repeatedly challenged such measures as unlawful.
