23/04/2026
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23/04/2026
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Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
CENTCOM, Apr 23: The United States military has seized another oil tanker allegedly linked to Iranian crude oil smuggling operations, escalating tensions in ongoing maritime enforcement efforts in international waters.
The United States Department of Defense confirmed that the vessel, identified as the Majestic X, was intercepted in the Indian Ocean during a targeted operation aimed at disrupting illicit shipping networks. Officials said the tanker is associated with oil smuggling activities connected to Iran.
According to the Pentagon, U.S. forces boarded the vessel and took control as part of what it described as continued global maritime enforcement operations. The department released footage showing troops on the deck of the tanker during the seizure.
“We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,” the Defense Department said.
Ship-tracking data indicated the Majestic X was sailing in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia and was reportedly en route to Zhoushan, China. The tanker, flagged under Guyana, was previously known as Phonix and was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2024 for alleged violations involving Iranian crude oil shipments.
The United States Department of the Treasury had earlier accused networks linked to Iran of using complex tactics such as false documentation, vessel renaming, flag changes, and manipulation of tracking systems to evade sanctions and continue oil exports.
The seizure comes amid heightened regional maritime tensions, following reports of attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has not yet issued an official response to the latest U.S. action.
