The captured vessel is the Sevan merchant ship, which was placed under US sanctions on Friday. Restrictions were imposed on 19 shadow fleet ships for activities related to transporting Iranian oil and gas to foreign markets.
On Saturday, the unit was intercepted in the Arabian Sea by a US Navy helicopter operating from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney. The merchant ship complied with the order of the American military and is returning to Iran under escort, we read in a message from the command on the X website.
The command emphasized that American forces are implementing sanctions and blocking ships leaving and heading towards Iranian ports. Since the beginning of the blockade, 37 vessels have turned back on US orders.
More sanctions related to Iran
The US Ministry of Finance announced further sanctions related to Iran on Friday. The restrictions apply to a refinery in China that buys Iranian oil, as well as approximately 40 shipping companies and ships operating as part of the Iranian shadow fleet.
Further restrictions were announced as part of Operation Economic Fury, which is intended to increase economic pressure on Iranians. The military operation against Iran is codenamed “Epic Fury”.
