US Marines Seize Sanctioned Crude Tanker in Indian Ocean Escalation

(MENAFN) US Marines boarded a large crude carrier linked to Iran in the Indian Ocean, according to the shipping tracking platform MarineTraffic, in what appears to be an escalation of enforcement actions targeting sanctioned maritime trade routes.

MarineTraffic reported on the social media platform X that the 330-meter vessel, known as Tifani and built in 2003, had been carrying roughly 2 million barrels of crude oil loaded from Iran’s Kharg Island earlier this month.

Tracking data indicated that the tanker passed Dondra Head on April 19, entered Southeast Asian waters the following day, and was subsequently boarded by US Marines.

MarineTraffic data also showed the vessel continuing to move at around 6 knots in Southeast Asia, with a draft suggesting it remained fully loaded.

Industry tracking sources said the ship has been heavily involved in Iranian oil exports for years, transporting tens of millions of barrels since 2020 through direct shipments and ship-to-ship transfers in Southeast Asia, often destined for China.

The vessel was placed under US sanctions last year, according to maritime monitoring reports.

Separately, the US Central Command stated on Tuesday that American forces have ordered dozens of vessels to turn back or return to port since enforcement actions against Iranian maritime traffic began.

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