US intercepts sanctioned merchant vessel in Arabian Sea, Central Command says

April 25 – U.S. Central Command said it intercepted a merchant vessel trying to ​get through the blockade ‌of Iran on Saturday. Here are some details:

• The ship, identified as the Sevan, was part of ‌a ​19-vessel “shadow fleet” transporting ⁠Iranian oil and ⁠gas products to foreign markets, the U.S. military said.

• Central Command said it was intercepted ​in the Arabian Sea by a U.S. Navy ⁠helicopter from the ⁠guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney ​and was “currently complying with U.S. military ​direction to turn back to ‌Iran under escort.”

• The “shadow fleet” vessels have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department ⁠for activities related to transporting billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian energy, oil ⁠and ‌gas products, including ⁠propane and butane, to ​foreign ‌markets, Central Command said.

• ​Since the ⁠blockade began, 37 ships have been “redirected,” the U.S. military said.

(Reporting by Norihiko Shirouzu in Houston; Editing by Sergio Non and ​Edwina Gibbs)