Friday Apr 24, 2026
Friday Apr 24, 2026
Friday, 24 April 2026 05:11 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The US Department of Defence yesterday announced that its forces carried out a maritime interdiction of a vessel allegedly transporting Iranian oil, as part of ongoing enforcement actions in international waters.
In a post shared on ‘X,’ US authorities stated that forces conducted a “right-of-visit boarding” of the stateless tanker M/T Majestic X in the Indian Ocean, within the operational area of US Indo-Pacific Command.
The vessel was reportedly carrying oil originating from Iran and is believed to be linked to sanctioned networks.
The Department noted that the operation forms part of broader global maritime enforcement efforts aimed at disrupting illicit oil shipments and preventing sanctioned actors from using international waters to bypass restrictions.
“International waters cannot be used as a shield by sanctioned actors,” it said, adding that enforcement operations will continue to target vessels and networks providing material support to Iran.
The development comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region, with increased scrutiny on maritime routes and energy shipments across the Indian Ocean and wider Indo-Pacific.
