U.S. forces have boarded an oil tanker subject to sanctions in the Indian Ocean, marking an expansion of the U.S. campaign to enforce maritime laws against shipping linked to Iran beyond the usual flashpoints in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a recent statement, the Department of War announced that U.S. forces conducted a “right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding” of the tanker Tifani (IMO: 9273337) without any incidents within the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area.
Officials indicated that the tanker was incorrectly flying the Botswana flag and had been previously sanctioned for shipping Iranian oil. This operation signifies a shift in U.S. focus, which has primarily concentrated on the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
“International waters are not a safe haven for sanctioned vessels,” the Department said, stressing that the U.S. would target illegal networks wherever they operate.
MarineTraffic reported tracking the Tifani after it moved through the Strait of Hormuz, where it allegedly loaded around 2 million barrels of crude oil from Iran’s Kharg Island.
“Based on #MarineTraffic data, the tanker passed Dondra Head on April 19 and entered Southeast Asia on April 20, before being boarded by U.S. Marines. The Tifani is currently navigating Southeast Asia at about 6 knots and has a reported draught of 20 meters, suggesting it is still loaded,” MarineTraffic noted.
United Against Nuclear Iran recorded the ship taking on crude oil at Kharg Island on April 6, just a week before the U.S. blockade began, and reported that the vessel was headed to China via a Malaysian route.
“The U.S. Forces acted against the Tifani in the Bay of Bengal after it passed Sri Lanka, before nearing the entrance of the Malacca Strait. This is not an unusual area for such actions. U.S. forces can operate freely in these international waters and manage risks more effectively here, demonstrating the global reach of their enforcement actions,” stated UANI's Charlie Brown.
This action was part of a broader sanctions initiative under Executive Order 13846, which targeted 20 entities engaged in the trade of Iranian oil, petroleum products, and petrochemicals. It also identified 10 vessels as blocked property.
The measures included actions against ENSA Ship Management Private Limited, the commercial manager of the vessel since December 2024. U.S. officials indicated that the Tifani was involved in at least two ship-to-ship transfers of Iranian oil while under ENSA’s management, both occurred with Iranian-flagged tankers, and were carried out with its AIS turned off in the Singapore Eastern Outer Port Limits.
This recent boarding highlights the U.S. transition from focusing on regional disruption to implementing global interdiction.
Over the weekend, U.S. forces also disabled and boarded an Iranian-linked cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz after it failed to obey orders, as part of a larger blockade effort that has already forced many vessels to turn back.
For ship owners and operators, this situation creates a complex compliance environment with no straightforward safe options. A vessel avoiding Iranian-controlled routes could still risk U.S. interception elsewhere, while those following U.S. directives may face restrictions in the Gulf.
The latest boarding occurs as the broader crisis in the Strait of Hormuz enters a more unpredictable phase.
The introduction of global interdiction operations raises the stakes, complicating risk assessments beyond the Gulf and into critical maritime routes across Asia.