Iranian Forces Seize US-Sanctioned Tanker Ocean Koi in Gulf of Oman
The IRGC Navy seized the 72,768 DWT tanker Ocean Koi in the Gulf of Oman on Friday. File Image / Pixabay
Iranian forces have detained the Barbados-flagged tanker Ocean Koi (IMO 9255933) in the Sea of Oman, accusing it of attempting to disrupt Iranian oil exports, according to local media reports.
Notably, the 72,768 DWT tanker was sectioned by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in February 2026 for facilitating those same exports. That move came as part of a broader action targeting Iran’s shadow fleet with US authorities saying at the time Ocean Koi had “transported millions of barrels of Iranian high sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) and condensate since May 2025.”
Ocean Koi had operated as part of the Iranian shadow fleet since at least 2020, OFAC said, and designated its owner, Marshall Islands-based Ocean Kudos Shipping Co Ltd, as a blocked entity.
US Sanctions Against Iran’s Shadow Fleet
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has taken several measures to target Iran’s shadow fleet. In February 2026, it sectioned the Ocean Koi for facilitating Iranian oil exports. The move was part of a broader action aimed at disrupting Iran’s ability to circumvent international sanctions.
According to OFAC, the Ocean Koi had transported millions of barrels of Iranian high sulfur fuel oil (HSFO) and condensate since May 2025. The agency designated its owner, Marshall Islands-based Ocean Kudos Shipping Co Ltd, as a blocked entity, effectively freezing its assets and prohibiting US citizens from engaging in transactions with it.
Iran’s Response to Sanctions
Iran has responded to the sanctions by seizing vessels suspected of attempting to disrupt its oil exports. In this case, Iranian forces detained the Ocean Koi, accusing it of attempting to disrupt Iranian oil exports. The vessel was subsequently directed to Iran’s southern coast and handed over to judicial authorities.
The move highlights the ongoing tensions between Iran and the US over Iran’s nuclear program and its ability to circumvent international sanctions. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this development will impact global energy markets and diplomatic relations between Iran and the US.
Original Article: Iran Seizes Tanker the US Sanctioned for Carrying Iranian HSFO — Shipandbunker