US forces have boarded an Iranian-linked oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, marking the fourth such operation against an Iranian vessel in international waters.
According to the US military’s Indo-Pacific Command, American personnel boarded and stopped the tanker Davina, which was operating in the Indian Ocean. The command said the vessel is linked to Iran and was targeted as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt networks supporting Iran’s oil trade.
In a statement, Indo-Pacific Command said it will continue global maritime enforcement operations aimed at dismantling illegal networks and preventing vessels from providing material support to Iran.
The boarding comes amid ongoing US efforts to restrict Iran’s maritime oil trade. Washington has imposed a range of sanctions and enforcement measures targeting vessels suspected of helping Iran export oil in violation of US sanctions.
The United States has also accused Iran of threatening international shipping routes, including through the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Iran has previously been linked to attacks on commercial vessels and disruptions to maritime traffic in the region.
The Davina is a supertanker with the capacity to carry approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil. The vessel was sanctioned by the United States in October 2024 for its alleged involvement in Iran’s oil trade.
According to publicly available maritime tracking data, the tanker was last detected on June 5 off the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
US officials have not disclosed what was found aboard the vessel, whether any cargo was seized, or what action will be taken following the boarding operation. However, the operation underscores Washington’s continued efforts to enforce sanctions and monitor maritime activity linked to Iran.
