Pentagon releases footage of maritime boarding as tensions rise following reported attacks on commercial vessels near key shipping routes.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that American forces carried out a maritime interception of a vessel suspected of transporting Iranian oil, releasing video of the operation conducted in the Indian Ocean.
According to the Pentagon, the action involved a “maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding” of the tanker M/T Majestic X, described as a sanctioned and stateless vessel operating within the Indo-Pacific region. The operation took place in waters under the responsibility of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
In a statement accompanying the footage shared in an X post, officials stated, “We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate.”
The department added that international waters would not shield sanctioned entities, stating that enforcement actions will continue to target vessels involved in activities that violate U.S. sanctions.
Tracking data placed the Majestic X between Sri Lanka and Indonesia at the time of the interception. The tanker was previously identified as a sanctioned vessel and had reportedly been traveling toward Zhoushan, China. The ship, which sails under a Guyana flag, had earlier been known as the Phonix and was designated by the U.S. Treasury in 2024 for its role in transporting Iranian crude in violation of sanctions.
The operation follows a similar boarding earlier in the region involving another vessel, the Tifani, also described as stateless and subject to sanctions enforcement.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in a key maritime corridor. One day prior, Iranian forces reportedly targeted three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them, raising concerns about disruptions to a route that carries a significant portion of global oil shipments.
U.S. officials have emphasized continued monitoring and enforcement in international waters, particularly in areas critical to global energy supply chains. The latest boarding reflects ongoing efforts to restrict the movement of sanctioned oil shipments and enforce maritime regulations tied to international sanctions on Iran.