- The US seized the oil tanker Majestic X linked to Iranian oil smuggling in the Indian Ocean
- The Pentagon vowed to continue enforcing global maritime laws against illicit Iranian activities
- Iran attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, capturing two vessels
The United States seized another tanker linked to Iranian oil smuggling a day after the Islamic Revolutionary Guards attacked three ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Defence Department released footage of forces on the deck of the oil tanker called 'Majestic X', which was seized in the Indian Ocean. The ship was in the same location as the oil tanker Tifani, which was earlier seized by US forces. The tanker is a Guyana-flagged oil tanker that was previously named Phonix.
The ship had been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in violation of US sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
"We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate," a Pentagon statement said.
Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.
— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) April 23, 2026
We will continue global maritime enforcement to… pic.twitter.com/SWF6Jt9Ci4
Iran Attacks 3 Ships In Strait Of Hormuz
On Wednesday, Iran attacked three cargo ships in the strait, capturing two of them, intensifying assault on shipping in the key waterway through which 20 per cent of the world's traded oil passes in peacetime.
An India-bound ship was among two vessels seized by Iran's Revolutionary Guard while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, amid looming uncertainty about the US-Iran ceasefire and proposed peace talks.
IRGC released footage of the interception of two vessels, MSC-FRANCESCA and EPAMINODES, after maritime violations in the Strait of Hormuz.
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 22, 2026
Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTS2ei pic.twitter.com/ZUUBbzbA2N
In total, three container ships, including the one which was headed to India, were attacked by Iran's security forces in the Strait.
Iran's state media and the BBC identified the three container ships as Liberia-flagged Epaminondas and Panama-flagged MSC Francesca and Euphoria.
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