US forces board sanctioned ship in Indian Ocean, defence department says

US forces have interdicted a sanctioned vessel that is transporting oil from Iran, the country's defence department has posted on X.

"US forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean," the statement says.

The department says that the US military will continue to interdict vessels suspected of "providing material support to Iran".

A maritime interdiction refers to the interception or inspection of a vessel by a navy on ships suspected to be hostile or in violation of the law.