The United States Department of Defense has communicated the detention of a new oil tanker in the waters of the Indian Ocean that was transporting crude oil of Iranian origin, within the perimeter closure device that the United States Army maintains around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil production circulates.
"U.S. forces conducted a maritime interdiction and a right of visit boarding of the sanctioned flagless vessel M/T Majestic X," reported the department led by Pete Hegseth.
The statement specifies that the ship was carrying oil "from Iran", although the boarding operation took place in waters of the Indian Ocean, far from the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington frames this action within its maritime control measures "to dismantle illicit networks and intercept vessels that provide material support to Iran," emphasizing that it is a global effort and that it will act "wherever these ships operate." "International waters cannot be used as a shield by sanctioned actors," it added.
According to information recently released by the U.S. Army's Central Command, CENTCOM, a total of 31 ships have been forced to turn back or return to port "as part of the U.S. blockade against Iran" in the Strait of Hormuz.