The United States seized an Iran-linked oil tanker in the Indian Ocean overnight, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, citing three U.S. officials.
The vessel, identified in the report as Skywave, had been linked to Iranian oil shipments. The Journal reported that ship-tracking data showed the tanker sailing west of Malaysia on Tuesday after transiting the Malacca Strait.
Public sanctions records show a vessel with the same IMO number, 9328716, was previously listed by the U.S. Treasury Department as Blue Gulf, a crude oil tanker sanctioned in March 2025 under Iran-related authorities.
The ship was likely carrying more than 1 million barrels of crude loaded at Iran’s Kharg Island in February, the Journal reported, citing brokers and Lloyd’s List Intelligence data.
The reported seizure comes as tensions remain high between Washington and Tehran. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States may need to strike Iran again if no deal is reached over Iran’s nuclear program.
The Pentagon did not immediately provide public confirmation of the tanker seizure, according to the Journal.
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