LONDON, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Radio communications recordings obtained exclusively by Xinhua from a crew member aboard a stranded commercial vessel near the Strait of Hormuz appear to indicate that a U.S. military aircraft attacked an Iran-linked oil tanker on Tuesday evening.
According to the recordings, a U.S. aircraft was heard addressing a vessel identified as "LEXIE," which was later reportedly abandoned by its crew following warnings from the aircraft.
In one recording, the aircraft can be heard saying: "This is U.S. Aircraft. We are going to fire upon your engine room. Evac(uate) your engine room."
Shortly afterward, a distress call believed to have originated from the same tanker said: "Mayday, Mayday. Motor Tanker LEXIE. Fire is in the engine room, and we are abandoning the ship."
The oil tanker, known as "LEXIE," was added to the sanctions list of the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control in March 2025 for its alleged involvement in the Iranian oil trade.
On May 30, the U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center said in a notice that restrictions imposed by the U.S. military on Iranian ports remained in effect and that vessels were prohibited from entering or leaving Iranian ports. ■
