U.S. Forces Interdict Vessel in Indian Ocean Transporting Oil From Iran

Latest Developments

• Vessel Interdicted: The U.S. Department of Defense announced on April 23 that “overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X,” which was “transporting oil from Iran.” The interdiction took place “in the Indian Ocean within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.” On April 21, the Department of Defense announced that “U.S. forces conducted” a similar boarding “of the stateless sanctioned M/T Tifani without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.”
• Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz: The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) reported that between April 21 and 22, three incidents were reported in or around the Strait of Hormuz, with one vessel being “approached by one IRGC gunboat that then fired upon the vessel,” causing “heavy damage to the bridge.” Another vessel reported being fired upon eight nautical miles west of Iran.
• Trump Threatens Mine-Laying Boats: President Donald Trump said on April 23 that he had “ordered the United States Navy to shoot and kill any boat … that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.” The president also stated that the strait was “’Sealed up Tight,’ until such time as Iran is able to make a DEAL!”

FDD Expert Response

“The U.S. Navy blockade is working as intended, successfully squeezing the Iranian economy by preventing the transit of fossil fuels on shadow fleet tankers. If the president has the patience, this should eventually drive the Iranians to the negotiating table in earnest.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation

“It is time to acknowledge that we do not have a ceasefire with Iran. The United States and Israel have suspended strikes, but Iran is committing acts of war at sea. It should be obvious — without the president saying so — that any Iranian mine-laying activities in the Strait of Hormuz will be immediately confronted and neutralized. But what is increasingly clear is that the United States has not yet deployed sufficient naval power: the remnants of the IRGC navy evidently still have the capability to attack container vessels. Its remaining maritime craft must be seized or sunk.” — Edmund Fitton-Brown, Senior Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“Why Trump’s Iran cease-fire is an increasingly risky bet,” by Mark Dubowitz and Ben Cohen

“Iran’s War on Iraq’s Oil Industry,” by Bridget Toomey

“The Iran War’s Five Lessons for Europe,” by Peter Doran and RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery

“For Iran, Hormuz Is More a Weakness Than a Weapon,” by Miad Maleki