WASHINGTON — A tanker that was ultimately disabled by the U.S. military while attempting to breach the American blockade of Iran had ignored nearly 60 verbal warnings and multiple other deterrent measures before it was struck, a U.S. official told The Associated Press.
According to the official, the ship’s crew also failed to respond to eight separate shows of force by military aircraft, including flare deployments and low flyovers, as well as two final warnings issued Wednesday before the vessel was fired upon. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive operation publicly.
Earlier this week, the U.S. military said an American aircraft used “precision munitions” to hit the engine room of the Palau-flagged tanker M/T Settebello. Indian authorities said the strike in the Gulf of Oman killed three Indian sailors.
The official said the vessel was part of a so-called shadow fleet used to move Iranian oil illegally and sidestep sanctions, and added that it had been observed trying several times to break through the blockade. U.S. forces, the official said, had been in contact with the ship repeatedly over a two-week period before the day it was disabled.
In a statement, U.S. Central Command said the crew was given 15 minutes to leave the engine room before the strike that incapacitated the tanker was carried out.
“After being in place for more than 60 days, it should be clear by now that U.S. forces will strictly enforce the blockade,” the statement said.
India’s foreign ministry said New Delhi has lodged a “strong protest” with the United States.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told his Indian counterpart on Friday “that all commercial vessels should immediately comply with orders from U.S. forces as they seek to uphold peace and security in the Strait,” according to a summary of the call released by the State Department on Saturday.
