U.S. Military Strikes Iranian Oil Tanker in Gulf of Oman Amid Ceasefire Tensions
The U.S. military fired on and disabled the rudder of an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on May 6, 2026, as it attempted to breach a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, U.S. Central Command confirmed. The strike occurred during a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, amid President Donald Trump’s ultimatum for Iran to accept a proposed deal to end a two-month war.
The proposed agreement, not yet finalized, includes a moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment, the lifting of U.S. sanctions, access to frozen Iranian assets, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Axios reporting. Iran has rejected the terms publicly but is still reviewing them, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said, while Trump warned on social media: "If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before."
On the same day, Israel conducted airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut, targeting a commander in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, marking the first such attack since a partial ceasefire was announced on April 17. Hezbollah did not immediately respond. More than 2,500 people have died in Lebanon since the broader conflict began on March 2.
China is attempting to mediate the crisis, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi calling for a comprehensive ceasefire after meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing. Wang stated the conflict has severely impacted regional and global peace. Araghchi’s visit preceded a planned summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14–15.
The U.S. will continue its naval enforcement in the Gulf of Oman, while diplomatic channels remain active ahead of the Beijing summit. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday.