US diverts three Iranian oil tankers in Asian waters, report says

KUALA LUMPUR: The United States has intercepted at least three Iranian-flagged oil tankers in Asian waters and redirected them from areas near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, according to shipping and security sources cited on Wednesday.

The reported interceptions come as Washington continues a maritime blockade on Iran’s trade, while Iran has fired on ships to stop them from sailing through the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the Gulf. Nearly two months after the United States and Israel began their war on Iran, there has been little indication of peace talks resuming despite what was described as an uneasy ceasefire.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted the movement of around a fifth of global oil and gas supplies and triggered a global energy crisis. In recent days, US forces have also seized an Iranian cargo ship and an oil tanker.

Iran said on Wednesday that it had captured two container ships attempting to leave the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz after firing on them and another vessel. These were its first such seizures since the war began.

Tankers identified in interceptions

According to two US and Indian shipping sources and two separate Western maritime security sources, the US has diverted at least three more Iranian-flagged oil tankers in recent days.

One of the vessels was identified as the Iranian-flagged Deep Sea supertanker. The sources said it was partially loaded with crude and was last visible on its public tracking transponder off the coast of Malaysia a week ago, according to ship-tracking data on the MarineTraffic platform.

Another vessel, the smaller Iranian-flagged Sevin, was also intercepted. The tanker has a maximum capacity of 1 million barrels and was carrying 65% of its load. MarineTraffic data showed it was last seen off Malaysia’s coast a month ago.

The Iranian-flagged supertanker Dorena was also among the vessels intercepted. According to the sources and MarineTraffic data, it was fully loaded with 2 million barrels of crude and was last seen off southern India three days ago.

US Central Command said in a post on X on Wednesday that the Dorena was being escorted by a US Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean after attempting to violate the blockade.

Possible fourth vessel and broader blockade figures

Shipping sources also said US forces may have intercepted the Iranian-flagged Derya tanker. The vessel had failed to unload its cargo of Iranian oil in India before a US waiver on Iranian crude purchases expired on Sunday. MarineTraffic data showed it was last seen off India’s western coast on Friday.

The US military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported interceptions. It also did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the Derya and the Deep Sea, while it has not publicly listed all of the ships it has intercepted.

US Central Command said on Wednesday that since the start of the blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports, US forces had ordered 29 vessels to turn back or return to port. A third maritime security source said the US military was looking to target Iranian ships away from the Strait of Hormuz and in open waters to avoid any risk of floating mines during operations.

The latest developments underline the continuing disruption to regional shipping routes as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high.