The US military seized another oil tanker, Majestic X, in the Indian Ocean on Thursday, which it said was associated with smuggling Iranian oil. The seizure follows Iran's attack on three cargo ships on Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Defence Department released footage of the seizure, showing US troops on the deck, stating that the US military will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate.
Ship-tracking data showed the Majestic X could be located in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, roughly the same area as the oil tanker Tifani, which was earlier seized by US forces. The Majestic X had previously been named Phonix and was sanctioned by the US Treasury in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil.
There was no immediate response from Iran on the news of the seizure. Diplomatic efforts around the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled, with Iran hardening its position as tensions continue in the waterway.
The standoff has led to concerns over the safety and security of shipping lanes, with ship owners and insurers needing more than a simple announcement of a peace deal to venture through the strait. According to Rystad Energy, it could take six to eight weeks just to reposition the world's tanker network, while two to five weeks would be needed for normal operations to resume.