The United States military has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged oil tankers in Asian waters, according to shipping and security sources. The vessels were reportedly redirected from areas near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka as part of an ongoing maritime blockade targeting Iran’s oil exports.
The action comes amid heightened tensions following a conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Washington has moved to restrict Iran’s trade by sea, while Tehran has responded by targeting vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The vital shipping route remains largely at a standstill, disrupting the flow of global oil and gas supplies.
Sources say the United States has now directed at least 29 vessels to turn back or return to port since the blockade began. Among those affected are Iranian-linked tankers tracked in the Indian Ocean and nearby waters. Some vessels were last recorded off the coasts of Malaysia and western India before losing or limiting publicly available tracking signals.
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Meanwhile, Iran has escalated its response by seizing two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz after reportedly firing on multiple vessels. The disruptions have contributed to a growing global energy crisis, as the waterway normally carries a significant share of the world’s oil shipments. Maritime security sources indicate that U.S. operations are increasingly focused on intercepting vessels in open waters to reduce risks associated with mines in the Gulf.
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