WASHINGTON/ARABIAN SEA: The United States military has intercepted a sanctioned merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea as part of its escalating enforcement of restrictions on Iranian energy exports, according to US Central Command.
In a statement released on Saturday, Central Command confirmed that the vessel, identified as Sevan, was stopped during a maritime operation conducted by a US Navy helicopter operating from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney.
The ship has been ordered to reverse course and is currently complying under naval escort, the statement added.
US officials described the Sevan as part of a 19-vessel “shadow fleet” allegedly involved in the covert transportation of Iranian oil and gas products to international markets in breach of US sanctions.
According to Reuters, these vessels are believed to play a central role in sustaining Iran’s energy exports despite ongoing restrictions imposed by Washington.
According to Central Command, the shadow fleet has already been designated by the US Department of the Treasury for its alleged role in facilitating billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian energy shipments, including propane and butane cargoes.
Officials further stated that since the initiation of the broader maritime enforcement campaign, a total of 37 vessels have been redirected or turned back, highlighting what Washington describes as a sustained effort to curb Tehran’s oil revenues amid heightened regional tensions.
The latest interception underscores the expanding scope of US naval operations in key shipping corridors, particularly as geopolitical friction in the region continues to intensify.
