U.S. Forces seize an Iranian-linked Tanker, Indian Ocean
Issued: 6 months, 3 weeks ago
| Date | Reference | Region | Category | Aggressors | Source |
| 2026-04-23 00:01:00 | CWD Notification 013- (Apr 26) | Indian Ocean | OSINT | Military | Open source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-sources have reported that U.S. forces intercepted an Iranian-linked tanker in the Indian Ocean (exact time and position not specified).The seizure occurred during an overnight operation, the vessel was intercepted within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's (INDOPACOM) area of responsibility while it was en-route to Zhoushan, China. The tanker, was identified as a stateless vessel and had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2024 for transporting Iranian oil. Although the ship was flying a Guyana flag, the Guyana Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) stated the registration was false and fraudulent. The tanker was boarded in a location close to where another tanker had been seized by U.S. forces just days prior. The boarding was part of an expanded global maritime enforcement effort to disrupt illicit Iranian oil smuggling networks. | |||||