U.S. Navy Reportedly Seizes Third Iran-Linked “Shadow Fleet” Tanker

The United States Navy has reportedly seized another tanker believed to be part of Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet,” increasing tensions in international waters as enforcement operations against sanctioned oil shipments continue.

According to reports from The Maritime Executive and other international maritime sources, the tanker identified as Skywave was intercepted in the Indian Ocean while allegedly transporting Iranian crude oil. Reports said the vessel may have been carrying more than one million barrels of oil linked to Iran’s export network.

The operation is believed to be the third seizure involving Iran-linked tankers in recent months. Previous reports identified other vessels allegedly connected to the same network, including Veronica III, Bertha, and Majestic X.

The U.S. government has been increasing pressure on Iran’s oil trade through sanctions and maritime enforcement operations. Officials claim these tankers are being used to secretly transport oil while avoiding international restrictions. These ships are often referred to as part of a “shadow fleet” because many reportedly operate with unclear ownership records, changing flags, or disabled tracking systems.

Reports also stated that U.S. forces used helicopter boarding teams during some interdiction operations in the Indian Ocean. Images and videos released by military sources reportedly showed armed personnel boarding tankers suspected of carrying sanctioned cargo.