US says it intercepted sanctioned vessel in Indian ocean maritime operation

The US Department of Defence has said its forces conducted a maritime interdiction operation overnight targeting a sanctioned vessel in the Indian Ocean, as part of broader efforts to enforce international sanctions and disrupt illicit maritime activity linked to Iran.

In a post on X, the Pentagon said US forces carried out a “right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding” of the stateless tanker M/T Tifani in the US Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility. Officials said the operation was completed “without incident," Caliber.Az reports. 

Overnight, U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the stateless sanctioned M/T Tifani without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.⁰⁰As we have made clear, we will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit… pic.twitter.com/EGwDe3dBI3

— Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) April 21, 2026

“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 statement said. “International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels.”

The department added that it would continue to “deny illicit actors and their vessels freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain.”

Vessel-tracking data indicated that the Tifani was located in the Indian Ocean at the time of the operation, in waters between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

By Sabina Mammadli