THIS is the stunning moment a US Hellfire missile precisely blitzes an oil tanker’s engine room as it tries to bypass Donald Trump’s blockade.
The rogue Botswana-flagged vessel ignored warnings issued by American forces and tried to sail towards Kharg Island – before it was hit by a crippling strike.
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The Botswana-flagged ship was attempting to travel to Kharg Island when it was targeted by US forces Credit: X
The devastating strike ripped through the tanker’s engine room Credit: X
US Central Command (Centcom) said on X it had “disabled an unladen oil tanker that was attempting to sail towards an Iranian port on the Arabian Gulf” on Tuesday.
The vessel, named Lexie, failed to comply with the US-enforced blockade after its crews ignored “repeated warnings” to stop.
Centcom said: “A U.S. aircraft ultimately disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room, preventing the tanker from reaching Iran.”
In the jaw-dropping clip, a white projectile can be seen cruising towards the ship before a huge explosion tears through its side.
FIERY CALL
‘You’re f***ing CRAZY’: Trump rages at Netanyahu & demands he call off strikes
‘STOP SHOOTING’
Trump says Iran talks are BACK ON at a ‘rapid pace’ after Israel update
Trump berated Netanyahu earlier this week for Israel’s strikes on Lebanon Credit: Getty
Trump reportedly told the Israeli PM ‘you’re f**king crazy’ Credit: Reuters
Trump introduced his blockade of Iranian ports on April 13 in response to Iran’s lock down of the Strait of Hormuz.
It comes after the US president berated Benjamin Netanyahu in a blistering verbal attack after Israel’s renewed strikes on Lebanon – telling the PM “you’re f***ing crazy”, according to US sources.
Peace talks between Tehran and Washington have meanwhile been re-launched at a “rapid pace” after a blip in negotiations.
Trump said that representatives are back at the table and that an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and extend the fragile ceasefire would be agreed “over the next week”.
On Monday, Iran said it had called off crunch talks after Israel’s renewed attacks in Lebanon.
State TV claimed the situation in Lebanon had become a key point for maintaining the fragile pause in fighting, adding that “this ceasefire has been violated on all fronts including Lebanon”.
Iran then demanded the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied areas of the Hezbollah stronghold.
Tehran said: “No dialogue will take place until [its] views on this matter are met.”
A hospital in the Lebanese city of Tyre was reduced to rubble by an Israeli strike Credit: AFP
Tehran said the fighting in Lebanon was a key sticking point Credit: AFP
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Israel would stop their ground invasion and air strikes on Hezbollah targets.
“I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back,” Trump wrote.
“Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop – That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel.”
He also said in another post: “I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu today, asking him not to go into a major raid of Beirut, Lebanon.
“He turned his Troops around. Thank you Bibi! Likewise, Israel agreed to stop shooting at them.
“Let’s see how long that lasts — Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!”
This comes as the US blasted Iranian military sites over the weekend in an act of “self- defence”.
Centcom claimed Tehran shot down a US MQ-1 drone over international waters and also accused the regime of attempted strikes on vessels in the strait.
Strikes on Iran’s Gulf coast subsequently “eliminated” Iranian air defences, a ground control station and two one-way attack drones, US Central Command revealed on X.
An infuriated Islamic Regime hit back with revenge strikes targeting a US base in Kuwait, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said.
US forces intercepted two Iranian ballistic missiles targeting the base, according to the military and added that no American personnel were harmed.
Trump vowed to make a “final determination” on the war in the Middle East ahead of talks in the White House Situation Room last Friday.
But negotiations stalled with the US president sending tougher terms back to Tehran over the weekend.
Iran will also be forced to give up its nuclear programme for at least 12 years as part of the proposed deal.
Iran initially proposed a five-year moratorium – while the US were holding out for a 20-year pause.
Trump is also seeking a special clause that would extend the moratorium if Iran is found to have broken its terms, Axios reports.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump blasted his Democrat opponents for hampering his chances of a truce.
He wrote: “Iran really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one for the U.S.A. and those that are with us.”
