U.S. Navy Intercepts Sanctioned Tanker M/V Sevan in Arabian Sea

A U.S. Navy helicopter launched from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG-91) intercepted the Panama-flagged tanker M/V Sevan in the Arabian Sea on April 25 after the vessel was sanctioned by OFAC the previous day as part of a batch of 19 shadow fleet designations.

Sevan was heading toward the Strait of Hormuz when intercepted. The vessel complied with U.S. military direction and is being escorted back to Iran. No resistance or crew injuries were reported.

OFAC designated Sevan on April 24 alongside 18 other vessels for transporting Iranian oil, gas, propane, and butane to foreign markets in violation of sanctions. The vessel had previously transported approximately 750,000 barrels of Iranian propane and butane to Bangladesh.

CENTCOM confirmed that 37 vessels have now been redirected since the U.S. naval blockade began on April 13.