&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "US intercepts Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters, away from Strait of Hormuz: Sources")
The US Defence Department said on Thursday that it seized the oil tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean. The tanker had been bound for Zhoushan, China. The department said, “We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate.”
The seizure was made after Iran attacked three cargo ships on Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two of them.
The defence department also released footage of the seizure of the vessel, showing US troops on the deck of the vessel.
Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, almost the same location as the oil tanker Tifani seized by American forces earlier.
The Majestic X is a Guyana-flagged oil tanker that was previously named Phonix and had been sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in contravention of American sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Trending Stories
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
US-Iran War: Trump ready to bomb Tehran, deploys B-1 bomber, envoys flee city
)
UN steps into Delhi protests: What the world body said about police and government will shock you
)
Union minister Ravneet Bittu resigns from cabinet; President Murmu accepts resignation
)
India to test fire three Kusha long-range surface-to-air missiles | Gravitas
)
Prakash Raj, Vir Das and other celebrities react as Dharmendra Pradhan resigns as Education Minister
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
Who is Abhijeet Dipke? Founder of Cockroach Janta Party leading NEET protests that triggered Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation
)
He predicted COVID-19 and 2008 economic crisis, was labeled fearmonger. Now he has another dire warning
)
IND vs ZIM, 2nd T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Jennifer Winget and William Ishmael's dreamy UK intimate wedding: See inside photos
)
ChatGPT invoked God, told pastor not to worry about his symptoms. Then pulmonary embolism hit
)
Why more than 75,000 people watched a record Qantas flight on Flightradar24 Friday?
)
NEET Protests riddled with misinformation? Delhi Police blocks 480 Pakistan-based handles spreading 'fake news' since Operation Sindoor
)
US-Iran war | Trump: Iran is taking negotiations more seriously than before
)
Russia-Ukraine War: Russia unleashes 28000 tonne nuclear giant ship
)
Accidental overdose: UK inquest rules out foul play in Saudi Prince’s London death
)
Reacher star Alan Ritchson slams US President Donald Trump over Epstein files; White House fires back
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
)
Sick of It All vocalist Lou Koller passes away at 59 following cancer battle, tributes pour in
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the S-400 fires its missiles straight up into the air
)
Google ends Play Services Support, likely to stop these Android phones from downloading apps & games
)
US says Turkey still barred from F-35 program until it gives up Russian S-400 system: Report
)
Commonwealth Games 2026 Day 3: India's full schedule, medal events and match timings
)
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns amid protests over NEET paper leak
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
'Shame on a country that...': Sonam Wangchuk slams haters, rejects 'deal' claims after ending 26 day fast | WATCH
)
IND vs ZIM, 2nd T20I: India thrash Zimbabwe by 90 runs; take 2-0 lead in series
)
'Direct democracy, straight from streets': Sonam Wangchuk hails Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation
)
Russia-Ukraine war: Russia activates nuclear beast Admiral Nakhimov amid war
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the specialized paint on an S-400 costs thousands of dollars per truck
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters with most sixes in India vs Zimbabwe T20s, check who tops the list
US targeting Iranian ships in open waters to avoid mines?
The US military is looking to target Iranian ships in open waters and away from the Strait of Hormuz to avoid any risk of floating mines during operations.
The US military has now intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters and is redirecting them away from their locations near India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, said shipping and security sources.
Washington has imposed a blockade on Iran’s trade by sea, while Iran has fired on ships to prevent them from sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.
On Wednesday, Iran said it had captured two container ships seeking to exit the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz, its first seizures since the war began.
US forces diverted 3 more Iranian-flagged oil tankers
The US has diverted at least three more Iranian-flagged oil tankers in recent days, according to two US and Indian shipping sources and two separate Western maritime security sources.
One of the vessels was the Iranian-flagged Deep Sea supertanker, which was partially loaded with crude and last seen on its public tracking transponder off Malaysia’s coast a week ago, according to the sources and ship tracking data.
The smaller Iranian-flagged Sevin, which had a maximum capacity of 1 million barrels and was carrying 65% of its load, was also intercepted.
US forces had directed 29 vessels to turn around since its blockade
The Iranian-flagged supertanker Dorena was also intercepted, fully loaded with 2 million barrels of crude, and last seen off the coast of southern India three days ago, according to ship tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform.
The US Central Command said on Wednesday in a post on X that Dorena has been under the escort of a US Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean after attempting to violate the blockade.
US forces may have intercepted the Iranian-flagged Derya tanker, shipping sources said after it failed to discharge its cargo of Iranian oil in India before a US waiver on Iranian crude purchases expired on Sunday.
US forces had directed 29 vessels to turn around or return to port since the start of its blockade against ships entering or exiting Iranian ports,
