1 min readJul 16, 2026 10:20 AM ISTCENTCOM says a Curacao-flagged commercial vessel was struck with Hellfire missiles (X/@CENTCOM)The United States said that it enforced its naval blockade measures against Iran and disabled an unladen oil tanker heading to an Iranian port in the Arabian Gulf.“US Central Command forces observed Curacao-flagged M/T Belma transiting international waters toward Kharg Island. The commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the U.S. blockade. A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel after firing hellfire missiles into the ship’s smokestack. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.“US forces resumed the naval blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas at 4 p.m. ET on July 14. During the first 24 hours of enforcement, CENTCOM has redirected two compliant commercial vessels and disabled one non-compliant vessel,” it added.© The Indian Express Pvt LtdThe Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:US IranAdvertisementLoading Recommendations...AdvertisementLive BlogIndia news Live Updates, 16 July 2026: Indian national stabbed 15 times in US mall over religion, India-UK trade deal kicks in7 minutes agoUS-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran targets US military communications, fuel storage tanks in Jordan18 minutes agoPetitioner says Sonam Wangchuk doing ‘Harakiri’, Delhi High Court agrees to hear case47 minutes agoEngland vs Argentina FIFA World Cup 2026 Semifinal Match Live Updates: ARG break ENG hearts with late turnaround2 hours agoUS-Iran War Live Updates: Iran has no plans for talks, focus on defence, says Foreign Ministry spokesperson5 hours ago