The U.S. military announced Thursday the seizure of the oil tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean, accusing it of transporting oil from Iran. This marks the latest move in an escalating standoff between the two nations, occurring just a day after Iran's Revolutionary Guards took control of two commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Defense Department released footage of U.S. forces boarding the Guyana-flagged tanker, which was previously known as Phonix and had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2024 for smuggling Iranian crude oil.

Ship-tracking data indicated the Majestic X was in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, a similar location to the oil tanker Tifani, which was seized by American forces earlier in the week. The tanker was reportedly bound for Zhoushan, China.

The U.S. military stated, "We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate." This operation is part of a broader effort to interdict sanctioned vessels believed to be aiding Iran, following a directive from the Trump administration.

The seizure occurs amidst heightened tensions, including Iran's recent attacks on three cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the capture of two vessels. This has intensified the disruption of shipping in the crucial waterway, through which a significant portion of the world's traded oil passes.

U.S. President Donald Trump had previously extended a ceasefire while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports. However, Iran has dismissed the ceasefire extension as "meaningless" and has stated it will not resume negotiations unless the U.S. lifts its naval blockade.

International waters are not to be used as a shield by sanctioned actors, according to the Department of War. The U.S. military has indicated that operations targeting such vessels could extend to the Indo-Pacific region.