US intercepts Iranian tankers in Asian waters: report

The U.S. military has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged oil tankers in Asian waters and is redirecting them away from positions near India, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, according to shipping and security sources cited by Reuters on Wednesday.

The reported operations come amid heightened maritime tensions following U.S. restrictions on Iranian oil trade by sea and Iranian actions targeting vessels transiting strategic waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz.

Nearly two months after the United States and Israel intensified their confrontation with Iran, prospects for renewed negotiations remain limited despite an uneasy ceasefire.

The developments have further strained global energy markets, with the Strait of Hormuz—through which about one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass—facing repeated disruptions. In recent days, U.S. forces have also seized at least one Iranian cargo ship and an oil tanker, while Iran said it had captured two container vessels attempting to exit the Gulf, marking its first such seizures since the escalation began.

Two U.S. and Indian shipping sources, along with two Western maritime security officials, told Reuters that at least three additional Iranian-flagged tankers were diverted by U.S. forces in recent days. The U.S. military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Among the vessels cited was the Iranian-flagged Deep Sea supertanker, partially loaded with crude oil and last tracked near Malaysia a week earlier, according to vessel monitoring data from MarineTraffic and the sources. The Iranian-flagged Sevin, with a capacity of about one million barrels and carrying roughly 65 percent of its cargo, was also intercepted after last being seen off Malaysia a month ago.

A third vessel, the fully loaded supertanker Dorena carrying around two million barrels of crude, was last recorded off southern India three days ago before being intercepted, according to the same sources and tracking data.

U.S. Central Command said in a post on X on Wednesday that the Dorena had been placed under escort by a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean after attempting to violate what it described as a blockade.

Shipping sources also indicated that the Iranian-flagged tanker Derya may have been intercepted after failing to discharge cargo in India before a U.S. waiver on Iranian crude imports expired on Sunday. The vessel was last tracked off India’s western coast on Friday.

CENTCOM said it has directed 29 vessels to turn back or return to port since the start of its maritime restrictions on Iranian shipping. It did not provide a complete list of intercepted ships and did not immediately respond to queries regarding the Derya or Deep Sea.

A Western maritime security source added that U.S. operations are increasingly targeting Iranian vessels in open waters away from the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to reduce risks posed by potential naval mines in the chokepoint.