US military boards Iranian tanker in Gulf of Oman, fifth since blockade began

The U.S. military boarded an Iranian-flagged commercial oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, the fifth vessel intercepted since the Trump administration began enforcing a blockade on Iranian shipping, The Korea Times reported.

The boarding comes as President Donald Trump delayed planned military strikes on Iran this week, halting the offensive at the request of Gulf allies who sought two to three days for ongoing diplomatic negotiations.

U.S. Central Command personnel boarded the M/T Celestial Sea after determining the vessel was attempting to reach an Iranian port in breach of the American embargo, according to The Korea Times. Crew members were searched and the ship was redirected away from Iranian waters.

The interception is the fifth since the Trump administration launched its campaign to block Iranian shipping and commerce. The policy aims to limit Iran's ability to export oil and generate foreign revenue.

Trump this week called off strikes set for Tuesday. He said he had planned "a very major attack" for that day but halted it, according to The Korea Times. The decision came at the request of Gulf state allies, who asked for a two-to-three day window to allow diplomatic negotiations to move forward.

Trump has set and later walked back deadlines related to Iran before. The administration continued the naval blockade while pausing more aggressive military options, signaling a dual-track approach of pressure and diplomacy.

The Trump administration has framed the blockade as a pressure lever in negotiations over Iran's nuclear and military programs, while keeping military action on the table should diplomatic efforts stall.