WASHINGTON : The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Saturday that its forces have intercepted an Iranian tanker allegedly carrying billions of dollars’ worth of oil and gas products, marking a significant escalation in Washington’s maritime blockade against the Islamic Republic.
In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said a US Navy helicopter intercepted the vessel M/V Seven in the Arabian Sea earlier today. The ship is now “returning to Iran under surveillance in accordance with US military instructions,” the command added.
According to CENTCOM, the tanker is part of Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet” — a network of vessels that US officials say evade sanctions by concealing cargo origins, disabling tracking systems, and conducting ship-to-ship transfers at sea. The command claimed the M/V Seven was carrying “billions of dollars’ worth” of Iranian energy products destined for foreign markets.
The interception comes one day after the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 19 “shadow fleet” ships, including the M/V Seven. Earlier this month, the US military announced it would intercept or turn back any vessel traveling to or from the Iranian coast.
“US forces are continuing to fully enforce the blockade of Iranian ports,” CENTCOM said in its statement, though it did not specify what would happen to the cargo or crew once the ship returns to Iranian waters.
The Pentagon has not released evidence supporting the valuation of the cargo, and Iranian officials have not yet commented on the incident. The move is likely to heighten tensions in the Arabian Sea, a critical chokepoint for global energy shipments.
