The United States forces have boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude in Asian waters, The Pentagon, headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense has reported on Tuesday (21).
In a statement posted on social media, the Pentagon said U.S. forces conducted a “right-of-visit maritime interdiction” and boarded the vessel M/T Tifani “without incident.”
Ship-tracking data showed the tanker was in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia at the time of the operation. The Pentagon described the vessel as “stateless,” although it has been identified as operating under a Botswana flag.
The announcement did not specify the exact location or timing of the boarding.
The move is part of ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt networks linked to Iran, including vessels suspected of transporting oil and other materials that could support Tehran.
“As we have made clear, we will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran, anywhere they operate,” the Pentagon said. “International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels.” (Newswire)