According to shipping and security sources on Wednesday, the U.S. military has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged tankers in Asian waters. These vessels are being redirected from their locations near India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka.
The United States has enforced a blockade on Iran’s maritime trade, while Iran has retaliated by firing on ships to prevent them from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway at the entrance to the Middle East Gulf. Nearly two months into the conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, peace talks have yet to resume amid a tense ceasefire.
The strait’s closure has disrupted the supply of approximately 20% of the world’s oil and gas, triggering a global energy crisis. The U.S. forces have recently seized an Iranian cargo ship and an oil tanker. On Wednesday, Iran reported capturing two container ships attempting to leave the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz after firing on them and another vessel, marking its first seizures since the conflict began.
In recent days, the U.S. has rerouted at least three more Iranian-flagged oil tankers, according to sources from the U.S. and Indian shipping sectors and separate Western maritime security sources who informed Reuters on Wednesday.
The U.S. military has yet to comment on these interceptions, as per the latest requests.
Among the intercepted vessels was the Iranian-flagged Deep Sea supertanker, partially loaded with crude and last detected off Malaysia’s coast a week ago, according to sources and MarineTraffic data.
Another ship, the Iranian-flagged Sevin, with a maximum capacity of 1 million barrels and carrying 65% of its load, was also intercepted. It was last seen a month ago off Malaysia’s coast, according to ship tracking data.
Another intercepted vessel, the Iranian-flagged supertanker Dorena, was fully loaded with 2 million barrels of crude. It was last observed off the coast of southern India three days ago, as reported by sources and MarineTraffic data.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Central Command announced on X that the Dorena is under the escort of a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean after it attempted to breach the blockade.
Follow The Post’s coverage on the latest in the war with Iran:
Shipping sources suggested that U.S. forces might have intercepted the Iranian-flagged Derya tanker. This vessel failed to unload its Iranian oil cargo in India before a U.S. waiver expired on Sunday. It was last seen off India’s western coast on Friday, according to MarineTraffic data.
The U.S. Central Command stated on Wednesday that since initiating its blockade of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports, U.S. forces have directed 29 vessels to turn back or return to port.
The U.S. military has not disclosed all the ships it has intercepted and did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Deyra and the Deep Sea.
A third maritime security source indicated that the U.S. military aims to target Iranian ships away from the Strait of Hormuz in open waters to reduce the risk of floating mines during operations.
