On Tuesday, U.S. Marines quickly fast-roped from an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter onto the deck of a suspicious container ship, the Blue Star III, which was headed for Iran. Since April 13th, 39 vessels have been turned back, boarded, or seized as part of the effort.
President Donald Trump remarked on Sunday that the blockade has been very effective. While the primary goal seems to be economic pressure, the military implications extend well beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
During a Pentagon news conference on April 24, U.S. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth stated, “We have seized their sanctioned vessels and we intend to seize more.” He emphasized that the blockade is expanding globally.
This situation has significant implications for China, which relies on imports for at least 70% of its oil, with 90% of that transported by sea. Last year, Iran accounted for 14% of China’s oil imports, while Russia contributed another 18%, primarily facilitated through the so-called Shadow Fleet tankers.
Merchant ship Touska
The situation intensified early on Sunday, April 19, when the Iranian-flagged container ship, the Merchant Vessel (M/V) Towska, entered the Strait of Hormuz, nearing the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. Sailing under cover of night, Towska was visible and tracked by the U.S. Navy missile destroyer USS Spruance.
Just five days earlier, Spruance had intercepted another Iranian vessel, so the Towska’s visibility was a concern. At 9:00 a.m., after issuing multiple warnings, Spruance fired nine 5-inch shells into the ship’s engine room. Later, U.S. Marines from the USS Tripoli bombed the Towska, capturing the ship and crew.
Tiffany and Majestic X
Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, known for his focus on technology and combat, oversaw the recent capture of two Iranian oil tankers. The MT Tiffani, notorious for transporting oil from Iran to Malaysia and eventually China, was boarded by U.S. forces, resulting in the capture of 1.9 million barrels of oil valued at $171 million. Following this, the MT Majestic X was also captured in the Indian Ocean, classified as a stateless ship licensed for transporting Iranian oil.
Both tankers are now headed west, towards a U.S. Military Sealift Command base. Interestingly, the crew of the Blue Star III assured the Marines that they were not bound for Iran, leading to their release.
This year marks a historic peak in the number of enemy ship seizures since 1941, contrasting sharply with the recent seizure of seven Venezuelan oil tankers in the Caribbean.
Additionally, Russia’s shadow fleet is also potentially at risk. Following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, President Vladimir Putin’s administration has acquired numerous unflagged tankers aiming to evade sanctions. This fleet, consisting of over 770 ships, has the capacity to transport 3.7 million barrels of oil each day, mostly for China. Operation Epic Fury could signify a larger threat to Russia’s maritime operations as well.
