US Military Seizes Tanker in Indian Ocean

Shortly after the extension of the US-Iran ceasefire, the US military took control of another tanker suspected of smuggling Iranian crude oil in the Indian Ocean.

On Thursday, the Department of the Army released footage showing the tanker, Majestic X, with soldiers being lowered onto its deck from a helicopter.

“We will continue our global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,” the Pentagon stated. “The high seas cannot be used as a shield by sanctioned parties. The Department of the Army remains committed to denying freedom of navigation to lawbreakers and their vessels.”

This marks the second operation in the Indian Ocean since President Trump announced the ceasefire extension on Tuesday. Initially set for two weeks, talks are expected to continue in the coming days.

Another tanker, the Tiffany, was also captured in the same area as the Majestic X, both considered “stateless” vessels. Interestingly, the Tiffany was flying the Botswana flag while the Majestic displayed the Guyana flag.

Additionally, President Trump mentioned that the US had seized the Touska, a cargo ship under Iranian flags, earlier this week in the Gulf of Oman.

In other developments, Iran claimed responsibility for attempting to seize multiple ships. On Wednesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced they had taken control of the Panamanian-flagged MSC Francesca, suspecting it had ties to Israel. They also targeted another vessel, the Euphoria, but it’s unclear whether it was captured.