US forces intercept Iran-bound military shipment from China in Indian Ocean: WSJ
World
The operation took place in November 2025, when US forces intercepted the ship several hundred miles off the coast of Sri Lanka.
WASHINGTON (Dunya News) US special operations unit last month boarded a commercial vessel traveling from China to Iran in the Indian Ocean and seized items linked to military use, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing American officials.
According to the report, the operation took place in November 2025, when US forces intercepted the ship several hundred miles off the coast of Sri Lanka. An unnamed US official said the cargo included components that could potentially be used in Iran’s conventional weapons programs. The seized materials were later destroyed, while the vessel was permitted to continue its journey.
The interception came weeks before US forces seized an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast over alleged sanctions violations, highlighting a broader enforcement push against illicit maritime shipments.
US President Donald Trump, who has been increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, referenced the tanker seizure earlier this week, claiming it was one of the largest such actions ever carried out by US authorities.
Officials confirmed that the Indian Ocean operation involved US special operations personnel but declined to provide further operational details. Neither China nor Iran issued an immediate response to the report.
