Iran-linked supertankers near US coast as seizure proceeds
Two Iranian-affiliated oil supertankers intercepted by the US Navy are now only weeks from reaching American ports, where authorities intend to confiscate the vessels and their cargo.
In April, US naval forces boarded the Iran-linked supertankers Tifani and Majestic X in the Indian Ocean as part of a blockade aimed at pressuring Tehran. Since then the ships have skirted Brazil’s shoreline and are now only weeks away from US ports, where officials plan to seize the vessels and the nearly 4 million barrels of crude they carry. The Justice Department initiated forfeiture proceedings against the tankers, and Homeland Security Investigations carried out federal warrants to take control of the cargo.
A third ship, Lenore, was intercepted in June and is also subject to legal action. The US Attorney’s Office in Washington confirmed cases for all three vessels, while a spokesperson for US Attorney Jeanine Pirro declined further comment on operational details. If the tankers reach US ports, they would represent the first Iranian oil deliveries to the United States since a 2023 forfeiture event.
Why it matters
The seizure could deprive Iran of oil revenue and set a precedent for future US actions against sanctioned shipments.
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