U.S. forces on Friday, May 8, 2026, fired on two empty Iranian oil tankers that attempted to evade the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. According to U.S. Central Command, a Navy warplane fired into the smokestacks of the vessels — identified as M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda — disabling both ships. The strike represents the first significant U.S. kinetic action against Iranian assets since President Trump on Tuesday paused Project Freedom shipping operations to create space for memorandum talks.
President Trump told ABC News later Thursday that the strikes were “just a love tap.” The President insisted the U.S.-Iran ceasefire remained in effect during a phone call with the network. The framing — describing acts of war as a “love tap” while insisting hostilities have not resumed — reflects the administration’s effort to thread the needle between enforcing the blockade and preserving the diplomatic opening represented by the 14-point memorandum currently under Iranian review.
The same day, the United Arab Emirates reported additional Iranian attacks. The UAE Defense Ministry said its air defenses engaged two ballistic missiles and three drones launched from Iran — at least the second time this week that Iran fired projectiles at the UAE. The UAE, which sustained the largest single direct attack of the conflict on Monday May 4 with 19 missiles and drones, has now experienced repeated waves of incoming fire even with diplomatic talks underway.
Iran has not officially responded to either incident, though state media has pushed back on Trump’s framing. The strikes raise difficult questions for the diplomatic track. If “defensive” U.S. operations continue while the memorandum is being finalized, Iran has plausible grounds to argue that the U.S. has not honored the spirit of the ceasefire framework. If the U.S. ceases blockade enforcement entirely, Iranian tankers will resume open evasion and the leverage the blockade provides will erode.
Sec. of State Rubio on Friday told reporters the U.S. expected Iran’s formal response to the 14-point memorandum that day. Reports indicate the response will travel through Pakistan within two days. ANZ Research wrote in a note: “The risk of a proposed U.S. peace deal breaking down will likely keep oil markets volatile.” Citi analysts said they expect broader financial markets to stabilize despite recent volatility but warned that the path toward normalization is unlikely to be smooth.
Markets digested the day’s events with relative calm given the friction. WTI crude settled marginally higher at $95.42 per barrel (+0.6%). Brent crude added approximately 1% to close at $101.29 per barrel. Both contracts posted weekly losses of more than 6% as the broader market continued to price in deal optimism over Friday’s tactical incidents. The continuing enforcement of the blockade — even via “love taps” — signals that the U.S. has not yet ceded its leverage.
The disabled tankers will not constitute a meaningful supply event. Both vessels were empty at the time of the strikes, consistent with the broader pattern of Iranian shadow-fleet movements during the blockade. The strategic significance is symbolic: U.S. willingness to engage Iranian assets even during deal negotiations underlines that the conflict is not over until both sides commit in writing. For continuing coverage, see our geopolitics dashboard.