The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta intercepted the M/T Stream on Sunday, preventing the vessel from reaching its intended destination.
The American warship stopped the tanker “after it attempted to sail to an Iranian port,” according to a statement released by CENTCOM.
In a social media post featuring imagery of both vessels, officials clarified that the intervention was carried out as part of the ongoing “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 M/T Stream is identified as a crude oil tanker operating under the Iranian flag, and maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic, as reported by Al Jazeera, indicated that the vessel was last tracked in Southeast Asia`s Malacca Strait approximately 13 days ago.
This latest incident has further escalated maritime tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Iran`s Foreign Ministry had previously lashed out at the United States, accusing the Biden administration of “piracy and armed robbery on the high seas” following the earlier seizure of two other Iran-linked tankers, the Majestic X and the Tifani.
The interception of the M/T Stream comes as American forces maintain a strict maritime restrictive operation in the region. According to official statements released yesterday, these forces are actively preventing ships from entering or exiting Iranian waters as part of a sustained effort to monitor and control movement into strategic coastal hubs.
The military is closely monitoring maritime traffic to ensure compliance with the ongoing restrictions.
Highlighting the scale of this operation, a post on X confirmed that “American forces have directed 38 ships to turn around or return to port” since the enforcement began.
US says examining latest Iran proposal
The White House said on Monday that it was examining Iran`s latest proposal to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, two months after a US and Israeli offensive sent shockwaves through the global economy.
Peace talks between the United States and Iran to end the Middle East war and fully reopen the vital strait have so far proven inconclusive since a ceasefire came into force.
Trump met with top security advisors on Monday to discuss an Iranian proposal after Tehran passed “written messages” to Washington via Pakistan, spelling out its red lines in negotiations, including on nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, the Fars news agency reported.
The proposal was “being discussed,” spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told a White House briefing.
Asked about the terms of Iran`s proposal, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News “it`s better than what we thought they were going to submit,” but questioned whether it was genuine.
“We have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made, is one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point,” he said.
Crude extends gains as Trump considers latest Iran proposal
Oil prices edged up and stocks wavered Tuesday as Donald Trump weighed an Iranian proposal that would reportedly re-open the Strait of Hormuz and end the eight-week-old war. Tehran was reported to have passed “written messages” to Washington via Pakistan spelling out its red lines in peace talks, including on its nuclear programme and the future of the crucial waterway.
Iran`s proposed interim deal is said to see it reopen the Strait of Hormuz —through which a fifth of oil and LNG usually flows — in exchange for Washington ending its blockade of Iranian ports. The plan also postpones more complex negotiations over its nuclear programme, a major sticking point for Trump.
(With AFP and ANI inputs)
