U.S. Central Command said the vessel, identified as the Sevan, was intercepted by a Navy helicopter launched from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney during operations aimed at enforcing restrictions on Iranian oil and gas shipments.

The military described the Sevan as part of a 19-vessel “shadow fleet” accused of transporting Iranian petroleum products, including oil, propane and butane, to foreign markets in violation of U.S. sanctions.

According to Central Command, the ship complied with orders to reverse course and is now heading back toward Iran under U.S. escort.The interception marks the latest maritime enforcement action under a U.S.-led blockade intended to restrict Iranian energy exports and reduce revenue flows to Tehran amid heightened regional tensions.

U.S. officials said the targeted fleet had been sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury for facilitating the transport of billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian energy products through covert shipping networks often involving opaque ownership structures and flag changes.

“These vessels are part of a sanctions evasion network designed to conceal the origin and destination of Iranian exports,” Central Command said in its statement.Since the start of the blockade, the U.S. military said 37 vessels have been redirected, reflecting an expanded effort to enforce sanctions through direct maritime interdiction rather than financial restrictions alone.

The Arabian Sea has become a focal point for such operations due to its strategic role in shipping routes connecting the Gulf, South Asia and global energy markets.Washington has increased pressure on Iranian oil exports as part of broader efforts to constrain Tehran’s regional influence and funding channels, particularly amid ongoing instability across the Middle East and heightened tensions involving U.S. forces in the region.

Iran has repeatedly criticized U.S. maritime sanctions enforcement as unlawful and has accused Washington of disrupting freedom of navigation and international trade.

The latest interception comes as scrutiny of tanker movements linked to Iran has intensified, with governments and shipping regulators monitoring so-called shadow fleets used to bypass sanctions through ship-to-ship transfers and concealed cargo documentation.

No injuries or military confrontation were reported during the interception of the Sevan, and Central Command did not specify the vessel’s final destination before it was ordered to turn back.

The vessel, Pine Gas, carrying 45,000 metric tons of LPG, took nearly three weeks to leave the Gulf after loading at Ruwais on February 27, a day before hostilities escalated following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Chief Officer Sohan Lal said the crew of 27 Indian nationals witnessed daily missile and drone activity while awaiting clearance. The ship was eventually instructed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to transit through a narrow channel north of Larak Island, instead of standard shipping lanes.

The alternative route was advised due to concerns that the main Hormuz passage had been mined, Lal said. Clearance to proceed was granted only after all crew members consented to the voyage.

Indian authorities coordinated closely with the vessel’s owner, Seven Islands Shipping, before approving the transit. The Indian Navy guided the tanker through the strait and deployed four warships to escort it for nearly 20 hours from the Gulf of Oman into the Arabian Sea.

Officials said no transit fees were paid and Iranian forces did not board the vessel during its passage.Supply concerns and reroutingIndia, heavily reliant on imported LPG for household consumption, has been monitoring shipping risks closely.

The cargo, initially destined for Mangalore, was redirected to ports on the east coast, including Visakhapatnam and Haldia, to manage supply distribution.

New Delhi said six Indian vessels have successfully transited the strait, while 18 ships with about 485 Indian crew remain in the Persian Gulf.

Iran has stated it is permitting passage for vessels from “friendly nations,” including India, as maritime traffic through Hormuz remains restricted.