Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka – A stateless oil tanker linked to Iran-related sanctions was boarded overnight during a U.S. maritime enforcement operation in international waters.

Video posted by X user Department of War shows official U.S. military footage of the right-of-visit maritime interdiction and boarding of the M/T Tifani. The operation took place without incident in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility.

In the accompanying statement, the Department of War said: “Overnight, U.S. forces conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of the stateless sanctioned M/T Tifani without incident in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility. As we have made clear, we will pursue global maritime enforcement efforts to disrupt illicit networks and interdict sanctioned vessels providing material support to Iran—anywhere they operate. International waters are not a refuge for sanctioned vessels. The Department of War will continue to deny illicit actors and their vessels freedom of maneuver in the maritime domain.”

The footage shows a high-angle aerial sequence captured from helicopters and drones. It begins on the deck of a U.S. Navy warship at sea, where uniformed personnel move in coordinated formations while others direct activity across the flight deck.

The video then shows a helicopter taking off and hovering over rough ocean waters before cutting to wide aerial shots of the red-hulled tanker M/T Tifani moving through open sea. Multiple helicopters are seen positioned above and near the vessel, which is fitted with cranes, piping, and superstructure.

The tanker, reported to be carrying nearly 1.9 million barrels of Iranian crude oil and previously operating under multiple flags, was boarded in the Indian Ocean near Sri Lanka between April 20 and April 21, 2026. Officials stated it will be held pending further disposition decisions.

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