The US military struck an oil tanker bound for Iran on Tuesday after the vessel's crew ignored repeated warnings and failed to comply with naval blockade measures, US Central Command reported.

A Hellfire missile fired from a US fighter jet hit the engine room of the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie, disabling the vessel as it headed toward Iran's Kharg Island port. Central Command said the tanker had been subject to enforcement actions under a US naval maritime blockade.

According to Central Command, the crew of the oil tanker ignored multiple warnings before the military action was taken. The strike targeted the ship's engine room, effectively stopping the vessel's progress toward its Iranian destination.

Kharg Island serves as Iran's primary oil export terminal and is located in the Persian Gulf. The incident represents the latest enforcement action in ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran over maritime activities in the region.

The US military has not provided additional details about the specific circumstances that led to the blockade enforcement or the current status of the tanker's crew. No information was immediately available regarding casualties from the missile strike.