On Thursday, the US military captured another tanker linked to the smuggling of Iranian oil, escalating tensions with Iran just a day after its paramilitary Revolutionary Guards took control of two ships in the vital Strait of Hormuz.
The Defense Department shared video evidence showing US forces on the deck of the oil tanker Majestic X, which was captured in the Indian Ocean.
A Pentagon statement indicated, “We will persist with global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illegal networks and intercept vessels supporting Iran, regardless of their location.”
Data from ship tracking indicated that the Majestic X was located in the Indian Ocean, situated between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, roughly the same vicinity as the oil tanker Tifani, which was previously seized by US forces. It was en route to Zhoushan, China.
There was no immediate reaction from Iran regarding the seizure.
This incident follows Iran’s assault on three cargo ships in the strait, where it took control of two vessels, heightening its offensive on shipping in this crucial passage, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil passes during peacetime.
The Majestic X is an oil tanker flagged from Guyana. Previously known as Phonix, it had been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2024 for its role in smuggling Iranian crude oil, violating US sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire while also keeping an American blockade in place against Iranian ports.
The ongoing standoff between the US and Iran has effectively halted nearly all exports through the strait, showing no signs of resolution.
This conflict has already led to soaring gas prices beyond the region and increased costs for food and various other goods. The price of Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, has risen above $100 per barrel, reflecting a 35 percent spike from prewar prices, yet stock markets seem largely unaffected.