The United States military has seized another oil tanker associated with Iranian oil smuggling, escalating a standoff with Iran just a day after the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guards took control of two vessels in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Details of the Seizure
The Defense Department released video footage of US forces boarding the oil tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean on Thursday. A Pentagon statement declared: "We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate."
Ship-tracking data indicates the Majestic X was located in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, in a similar area where US forces previously seized the oil tanker Tifani. The vessel had been destined for Zhoushan, China.
Iran has not yet responded to the news of the seizure.
Context of Escalation
This action follows a day after Iran attacked three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, capturing two of them. This move intensified assaults on shipping in the critical waterway, through which 20% of the world's traded oil passes during peacetime.
The Majestic X, flagged by Guyana, was previously known as the Phonix and was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil in violation of US sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports. The standoff between the US and Iran has effectively choked off nearly all exports through the strait, with no resolution in sight.
Economic Impact
The conflict has already driven gas prices sharply higher far beyond the region, raising the cost of food and a wide array of other products. Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, has surged past $100 per barrel, marking a 35% increase from prewar levels. However, stock markets appear relatively unfazed.
European Union Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen warned on Wednesday of lasting repercussions for consumers and businesses, comparing the situation to other major energy crises over the past half-century. He noted that the disruption is costing Europe approximately 500 million euros ($600 million) each day.
