(Feb 4): An oil tanker that’s part of a US-military fuel procurement programme was hailed by small armed ships in the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast on Tuesday, amid heightened tensions between the two countries. The US-flagged Stena Imperative was hailed over radio while transiting the vital waterway, according to multiple maritime security companies, who declined to be named citing sensitive information. Iranian media said the country’s naval forces warned a vessel to leave Iranian territorial waters after failing to produce the necessary legal documents. Last year, it diverted a ship called the Talara to its waters, before unloading its cargo and releasing it. Late last week, Greece, the world’s largest tanker-owning nation advised its ships to exercise caution while transiting the strait.

Source: The Edge Markets February 03, 2026 17:09 UTC