US Forces Seize Iranian Oil Shipment Amid Rising Tensions

Thu Apr 23 2026 23:59:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The US Navy has boarded a ship carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean, intensifying its maritime blockade against Iran as President Trump threatens severe measures against vessels laying mines in critical shipping channels.

In a recent escalation of naval tensions, US forces boarded the M/T Majestic X, a vessel carrying oil from Iran. This action follows a blockade on Iranian maritime traffic ordered by the US, affecting numerous vessels. President Trump has announced a firmly aggressive stance, instructing the Navy to destroy any ships laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have condemned the US actions, labeling them as piracy. Despite a ceasefire extension, the blockade remains in place, with both sides reaffirming their positions.

The US says its forces have boarded a sanctioned ship carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean in the country's latest naval move against Iran.

The US Department of Defence (DoD) said in a statement it had carried out a maritime interdiction - the interception or inspection of a vessel by a navy on ships suspected to be hostile or in violation of the law - on the M/T Majestic X.

The US has intercepted multiple ships after imposing a blockade on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on April 13.

The latest interception comes as President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy to shoot and kill any boat laying mines in the critical shipping channel the Strait of Hormuz.

Under the blockade, US Central Command (Centcom) said it has ordered 33 vessels to return to port, and the DoD has said it will continue to stop ships suspected of providing material support to Iran - anywhere they operate.

Iran described one US ship interception earlier this week as piracy.

Trump has been hoping to put pressure on Tehran by targeting the country's oil revenues and tolls Tehran said it has collected from ships in order to navigate freely through the strait.

Trump claimed to have rejected an offer from Iran to reopen the strait three days ago, saying that it will open when we make a deal.

Hamidreza Haji Bababei, the deputy speaker of the Iranian Parliament, claimed the first revenues collected from tolls imposed on ships using the vital waterway had been deposited with the Central Bank, but no further details were provided.

The US's naval blockade continues despite Trump’s extension of a two-week ceasefire at Pakistan's request. Iran has maintained that the blockade breaches the ceasefire, complicating negotiations to resolve tensions.

Trump stated that US forces have total control of the Strait of Hormuz while asserting that Iran is struggling with internal leadership issues.

As tensions escalate, with Iran's navy reportedly seizing cargo ships in the strait, both nations remain entrenched in their respective strategies, signaling a prolonged period of conflict ahead.