US Boards Sanctioned Tanker in Indian Ocean Linked to Iran
The United States has boarded a sanctioned crude oil tanker that was transiting the Indian Ocean, according to the Pentagon’s statement. The boarding was carried out as part of a “right-of-visit, maritime interdiction” and is seen as a show of force just hours before possible negotiations were due to start in Pakistan.
The tanker, named Tifani (300,000 dwt), appeared to have been laden and was en route from Malaysia to Sri Lanka, bound for Singapore. The Pentagon confirmed the position, stating that the interdiction took place in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.
“We will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran—anywhere they operate,” said the US statement. “International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels.”
The Tifani has been sailing since 2022 under Indian management, with its flag listed as Palau or Botswana in some databases. The Pentagon referred to it as “stateless,” which is confirmed by Equasis, which lists the flag as unknown.
US Sanctions and Blockade
The United States sanctioned the Tifani in July 2025, citing reports that it had been involved in at least two ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil near Singapore. The sanctions were part of a broader effort to disrupt Iran’s ability to export oil and circumvent international sanctions.
The US blockade has been in place since then, with military leaders stating that interdictions would not be limited to the Gulf of Oman. Images released by the Pentagon showed US forces boarding the Tifani from helicopters, with a US Navy Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base appearing to be involved and launched the boarding.
Iran’s Response
Iran has yet to respond officially to the boarding, but it lashed out at the incident over the weekend when the US disabled an Iranian containership that attempted to breach the blockade. Iran called it a violation of the ceasefire and vowed to retaliate, reporting that the Strait of Hormuz was again closed.
Global Maritime Enforcement
The US has been conducting global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran. The Pentagon stated that 27 vessels had been directed to turn around or return to an Iranian port as part of the ongoing blockade.
However, Bloomberg reported that two cargo ships and a fuel tanker appeared to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday morning, while another report claimed that two Iran-linked liquefied petroleum gas carriers and two oil product tankers transited the Strait in both directions on Monday.
Original Article: US Boards Sanctioned Tanker in the Indian Ocean Linked to Iran — The Maritime Executive