US forces board 'stateless vessel' allegedly carrying Iranian oil: Pentagon

US forces executed a boarding operation overnight on a “sanctioned stateless vessel” allegedly transporting oil from Iran in the Indian Ocean, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

“Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X,” the Defense Department said on US social media company X.

The operation was carried out in the INDOPACOM (United States Indo-Pacific Command) area of responsibility, it said.

The department emphasized that international waters will not serve as a "shield" for sanctioned actors, vowing to deny freedom of movement for "illicit networks" and "vessels providing material support to Iran."

Iran has not yet commented on the incident.

Ship tracking platform Tanker Trackers said the vessel, formerly known as Phonix, reportedly facilitated the export of 20 million barrels of Iranian oil since 2023.

Although the tanker was flying the flag of Guyana, the platform said it was doing so without the country's authorization, noting automatic identification system data shows the vessel was intercepted at 0201GMT.

The seizure follows a series of similar actions by the US.

On Tuesday, US forces boarded another stateless tanker, the M/T Tifani, in the same region. Additionally, CENTCOM said on Wednesday that a US Navy destroyer is currently escorting the M/V Dorena after the vessel attempted to breach the ongoing maritime blockade.