The United States says its forces boarded a sanctioned vessel transporting Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean, marking the latest maritime move against Iran.
The United States Department of Defense said in a statement that it carried out a “maritime interdiction” the interception or inspection of a vessel by naval forces suspected of hostile activity or legal violations against the tanker M/T Majestic X.
The US has stopped several vessels since imposing a blockade on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on April 13, according to BBC.
The latest move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to “shoot and destroy” any vessel laying mines in the critical shipping route of the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the blockade, United States Central Command said it has ordered 33 ships to return to port, while the DoD stated it will continue intercepting vessels suspected of “providing material support to Iran — wherever they operate.”
Iran has described an earlier U.S. seizure of a vessel this week as “piracy.”
Trump has sought to pressure Tehran by targeting the country’s oil revenues and fees Iran claims to collect from ships for free navigation through the strait.
Speaking at an event at the White House, he said the blockade was “100% effective” and that Iran was “doing no business.”
Trump also claimed he had rejected an offer from Iran to reopen the strait three days earlier, saying “it will open when we make a deal.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Parliament Speaker Hamidreza Haji Babaei said the first revenues from shipping fees had been deposited into the country’s central bank.
No further details have been provided regarding the amount, collection method, or who paid the fee.
The US has continued enforcing its naval blockade despite Trump extending a two-week ceasefire at the request of mediator Pakistan.
