U.S. has intercepted three Iranian oil tankers

One of the vessels was the Iranian-flagged supertanker Deep Sea, which was partially loaded with oil and was last detected via a public vessel tracking transponder off the coast of Malaysia a week ago, Reuters reports.

A smaller Iranian-flagged vessel, the Sevin, with a maximum capacity of 1 million barrels and carrying 65% of its cargo, was also intercepted. Vessel tracking data showed that the ship was last detected off the coast of Malaysia a month ago.

Also intercepted was the Iranian-flagged supertanker Dorena, fully loaded with 2 million barrels of oil, which was last spotted off the coast of southern India three days ago.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Wednesday that the Dorena is being escorted by a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Indian Ocean after attempting to breach the blockade.

U.S. forces have likely intercepted the Iranian-flagged tanker Derya. The vessel did not manage to unload Iranian oil in India before the U.S. exemption on purchasing Iranian oil expired on Sunday. The vessel was last spotted off the west coast of India on Friday.

The U.S. military plans to strike Iranian ships far from the Strait of Hormuz, in open waters, to avoid the risk of encountering floating mines during operations.

Photo: oxu.az.