Intercepted: Unveiling the Shadow Fleet in the Arabian Sea
The U.S. Central Command intercepted a merchant vessel, Sevan, attempting to bypass Iran's blockade. Part of a sanctioned 'shadow fleet' transporting Iranian energy products, the ship was stopped in the Arabian Sea by a U.S. Navy helicopter and is now returning to Iran under escort.
The U.S. Central Command announced the interception of a merchant vessel named Sevan on April 25. According to reports, this vessel was attempting to skirt around the blockade of Iran on Saturday.
The Sevan was identified as part of a 19-ship 'shadow fleet' that has been transporting Iranian oil and gas products internationally, the U.S. military stated. It was halted in the Arabian Sea by a U.S. Navy helicopter from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney and is now under orders to return to Iran under escort.
The U.S. Treasury Department had previously sanctioned these 'shadow fleet' vessels for their role in transporting Iranian energy resources to global markets. As a part of the blockade, 37 ships have been rerouted, informed the U.S. military.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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