US Central Command (Centcom) says its forces have prevented a Maltese-flagged tanker from crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

“Our forces prevented the oil tanker Agios Phanourios from crossing the Strait of Hormuz for violating the blockade,” a Centcom spokesperson tells Al Jazeera, adding that the vessel was not transporting Iranian oil.

The spokesperson adds that US forces intercepted several tankers not carrying Iranian oil because they violated the embargo, adding that the US-imposed blockade on Iranian ports remains in place.