The U.S. government is seeking to seize two oil tankers linked to Iran that were seized by the U.S. Navy as it imposes a blockade on Iran, a senior White House official revealed.The official said the U.S. Department of Justice had initiated seizure proceedings, but did not elaborate on the specific procedures or whether it was intended to seize the crude oil on board. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive operation, declined to reveal the ships' final disposition or discuss their current routes, citing operational security.
According to the Pentagon, the US military boarded the Tifani and Phonix ships (the latter also known as Majestic X) in waters near Sri Lanka last week. Over the next few days, the tankers continued sailing in the Indian Ocean and appeared to change course multiple times.
The United States and Iran have imposed a dual blockade in and around the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. President Donald Trump seeking to increase economic pressure on Tehran and the Islamic Republic seeking to counter U.S. pressure.
In several cases where captains have tried to test the U.S. blockade, the U.S. Navy has directed intercepted ships to return to Persian Gulf ports. The seizure of oil cargoes from Iran-linked ships would mark an escalation in Trump's economic offensive and would be comparable to the strategy targeting Venezuelan crude since the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.