On Saturday, April 25, the United States Central Command stated that American military helicopters intercepted a sanctioned commercial ship in the Arabian Sea.
The Central Command, responsible for US military operations in the Middle East, announced on X platform that the intercepted ship was named “M/V Sevan,” and a helicopter from the US Navy’s USS Pinckney destroyer conducted the interception operation.
“The commercial ship is currently complying with US military orders and is returning to Iran under escort from (US vessels),” the Central Command said.
On Friday, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on a total of 19 Iranian “shadow fleet” ships, including the “Sevan,” for their involvement in transporting Iranian energy, oil, and natural gas products (including propane and butane) to overseas markets, with the cargo valued at billions of dollars.
According to the US Treasury Department, the “Sevan” flies the flag of Panama and is owned by Anka Energy and Logistics Company, headquartered in the Marshall Islands. The department stated that between August and November 2025, the ship transported approximately 750,000 barrels of sanctioned Iranian propane and butane to Bangladesh.
The Central Command declared, “The US military continues to enforce American sanctions, fully blocking ships entering and exiting Iranian ports. Since the blockade began, 37 ships have changed course.”
Last Sunday, the US military fired at and seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship “Touska” in the Gulf of Oman as it attempted to circumvent the US blockade and ignored multiple warnings.
President Trump posted on the Truth Social platform on Thursday, stating that the US has complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, which was tightly blocked before Iran agreed to a deal.
On Friday, Defense Secretary Hagasees stated during a Pentagon press conference, “Without permission from the US Navy, no one is allowed to sail from the Strait of Hormuz to anywhere in the world.”
“For the Tehran regime, the blockade is tightening at an alarming rate. We have control of the situation. No entry or exit of (vessels) is allowed. The US military power is unrivaled, capable of projecting force, deterring hostile forces, and protecting our interests at the time and place of our choosing,” he said.
Simultaneously, the US Treasury Department is intensifying enforcement efforts under the “Economic Fury” operation, using financial and maritime blockade measures to squeeze Iran’s sources of income systematically, weakening Iran’s capabilities for fundraising, transfer, and repatriation of funds.