U.S. Seizes Three Iranian Oil Tankers Carrying $600 Million

Three Iran-linked oil supertankers—the Tifani, Majestic X, and the Lenore—are sailing toward the United States after being interdicted by American naval forces. The Tifani and Majestic X were boarded near Sri Lanka in April, while the Lenore was intercepted in June. Together, the vessels carry approximately 6 million barrels of crude oil valued at nearly $600 million.

Donald Trump imposed the naval blockade to pressure Iran to end the war, describing the seizure of the ships and cargo as a profitable operation. If the vessels reach a U.S. port, they will mark the first Iranian oil consignments to arrive on American shores since 2023.

The United States Department of Justice has initiated asset forfeiture proceedings to seize the ships and their cargo. Law enforcement agents from the United States Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations executed federal warrants to secure the tankers. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas is now preparing to adjudicate the vessels as prizes through the federal court system.