Ruptly
"The US Department of War on Thursday reported a ‘right-of-visit boarding’ on the M/T Majestic X, a sanctioned vessel allegedly linked to smuggling Iranian crude oil. Footage released by the US shows a group of soldiers descending onto a tanker from a helicopter before walking around the vessel. “Overnight, 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 within the INDOPACOM (United States Indo-Pacific Command) area of responsibility,” the US Department of War post on X reads. While the vessel was described as ‘stateless’, it is believed to sail under the flag of Guyana as of April, 2026. The INDOPACOM oversees operations across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, whereas the United States Central Command is responsible for the Strait of Hormuz. It comes after US forces perpetuated similar ‘right-of-visit maritime interdiction and boarding’ on Tuesday on the M/T Tifani, also sanctioned over suspected illicit Iranian activity. The move is part of Washington’s wider pressure strategy, dubbed Operation ‘Economic Fury’, the campaign name for the maritime blockade and sanctions enforcement currently in place, working in tandem with Operation Epic Fury, the US-led campaign of strikes against Iran since February. Uncertainty clouds the second round of negotiations between the US and Iran in Islamabad, with Tehran yet to confirm its participation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said 'no final decision' had been made, citing "contradictory messages and conflicting behaviour from the Americans." US President Donald Trump later said the ceasefire would be extended, while confirming that the naval blockade on Iranian ports would remain in place "until Iranian leaders present a unified proposal in the talks." The first round of talks, held on April 11, ended without agreement. The diplomatic push follows a conditional two-week ceasefire reached on April 8, after weeks of escalation triggered by the joint US-Israeli military operation against Iran on February 28."
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