The US says its forces have boarded a sanctioned ship carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean in the country's latest naval move against Iran.
The US Department of Defence (DoD) said in a statement it had carried out a maritime interdiction - the interception or inspection of a vessel by a navy on ships suspected to be hostile or in violation of the law - on the M/T Majestic X.
The US has intercepted multiple ships after imposing a blockade on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on 13 April.
The latest interception comes as President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy to shoot and kill any boat laying mines in the critical shipping channel the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the blockade, US Central Command (Centcom) said it has ordered 33 vessels to return to port, and the DoD has stated it will continue to stop ships suspected of providing material support to Iran - anywhere they operate.
Iran described one US ship interception earlier this week as piracy. Trump has been looking to apply pressure on Tehran by targeting the country's oil revenues and tolls Tehran asserts it has collected from ships in the strait.
Trump claimed at a White House event that the blockade was 100% effective and that Iran is getting no business. He has also stated he had rejected an offer from Iran to reopen the strait three days ago, reiterating that it will open when a deal is reached.
Hamidreza Haji Bababei, the deputy speaker of the Iranian Parliament, claimed the first revenues from tolls imposed on ships passing through the Strait had been deposited with Iran's Central Bank, although no details have been confirmed about the toll collection method or amounts.
Despite a temporary ceasefire extension at the request of Pakistan, the US continues its naval blockade. Tehran maintains that the blockade renders it impossible to open the Strait.
The Pentagon has dismissed reports suggesting that US forces may require six months to address any mines in the shipping lane, with assurances that clearing operations are already underway.
Amid ongoing military operations, Iran's navy recently captured two cargo ships in the Strait, following allegations of attacks on vessels by Iranian forces. The situation continues to be volatile with both sides accusing each other of aggressive actions in the strategically important waterway.
The US Department of Defence (DoD) said in a statement it had carried out a maritime interdiction - the interception or inspection of a vessel by a navy on ships suspected to be hostile or in violation of the law - on the M/T Majestic X.
The US has intercepted multiple ships after imposing a blockade on maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports on 13 April.
The latest interception comes as President Donald Trump ordered the US Navy to shoot and kill any boat laying mines in the critical shipping channel the Strait of Hormuz.
Under the blockade, US Central Command (Centcom) said it has ordered 33 vessels to return to port, and the DoD has stated it will continue to stop ships suspected of providing material support to Iran - anywhere they operate.
Iran described one US ship interception earlier this week as piracy. Trump has been looking to apply pressure on Tehran by targeting the country's oil revenues and tolls Tehran asserts it has collected from ships in the strait.
Trump claimed at a White House event that the blockade was 100% effective and that Iran is getting no business. He has also stated he had rejected an offer from Iran to reopen the strait three days ago, reiterating that it will open when a deal is reached.
Hamidreza Haji Bababei, the deputy speaker of the Iranian Parliament, claimed the first revenues from tolls imposed on ships passing through the Strait had been deposited with Iran's Central Bank, although no details have been confirmed about the toll collection method or amounts.
Despite a temporary ceasefire extension at the request of Pakistan, the US continues its naval blockade. Tehran maintains that the blockade renders it impossible to open the Strait.
The Pentagon has dismissed reports suggesting that US forces may require six months to address any mines in the shipping lane, with assurances that clearing operations are already underway.
Amid ongoing military operations, Iran's navy recently captured two cargo ships in the Strait, following allegations of attacks on vessels by Iranian forces. The situation continues to be volatile with both sides accusing each other of aggressive actions in the strategically important waterway.
