US troops board crude tanker carrying Iranian oil: Pentagon

The Pentagon has said its US forces boarded M/T Majestic X crude tanker carrying Iranian oil in the Indian Ocean.

Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.

We will continue global maritime enforcement to… pic.twitter.com/SWF6Jt9Ci4

— Department of War (@DeptofWar) April 23, 2026

The M/T Majestic X is considered by the US as a "stateless tanker", and was boarded in the Indian Ocean within the area of responsibility of US Indo-Pacific Command.

The vessel was suspected of transporting Iranian oil in violation of sanctions, officials said.

US forces overnight conducted a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned vessel.

The Trump administration said they will continue maritime enforcement operations worldwide to disrupt illicit networks and interdict ships providing material support to Iran.

“International waters cannot be used as a shield by sanctioned actors,” the statement said, adding that the US Department of Defense will continue efforts to deny sanctioned vessels freedom of maneuver at sea.