Overview
- CENTCOM said Saturday that a Navy helicopter from USS Pinckney intercepted the Panama-flagged M/V Sevan in the Arabian Sea and directed it to return to Iran under escort.
- The Treasury had designated Sevan on Friday as one of 19 vessels it says move Iranian oil and gas to foreign markets as part of a clandestine network.
- Sevan is owned by Marshall Islands-based Anka Energy, and Treasury records say it carried about 750,000 barrels of Iranian propane and butane to Bangladesh in 2025.
- U.S. forces report the blockade that began April 13 has turned back 37 vessels, while Israel National News cited a CENTCOM update stating 38, underscoring the scale of enforcement.
- A drop in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since late February fighting has strained energy flows, with Brent crude nearing $120 a barrel in March as some tankers delayed or rerouted.