WORLD NEWS
WASHINGTON: In an unusual enforcement action, US military forces stopped and searched a cargo vessel traveling from China to Iran in November, highlighting a tougher maritime stance on sanctions compliance under the Trump administration.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the interception took place amid growing US vigilance over shipments suspected of breaching sanctions imposed on Tehran.
American officials said special operations forces boarded the ship hundreds of miles off the coast of Sri Lanka, marking the first such US interdiction of China-to-Iran cargo in several years.
Officials indicated that the vessel was transporting materials considered “potentially useful” for Iran’s conventional military capabilities. However, the items were classified as dual-use goods, meaning they could also have legitimate civilian applications.
Following the inspection, the ship was permitted to resume its voyage to Iran. US officials said the action was part of broader efforts to enforce sanctions and disrupt supply chains that could strengthen Iran’s military capacity.
The move came just weeks before another US maritime operation, in which American forces seized an oil tanker near Venezuela, also over alleged sanctions violations. These incidents reflect an expanded use of naval operations to counter attempts to bypass US restrictions.
China has strongly criticized the recent actions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing opposes what it described as unilateral and extraterritorial sanctions, calling the seizures illegal under international law.
Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Washington has not ruled out further vessel seizures near Venezuela, signaling that similar operations could continue as part of the administration’s sanctions enforcement strategy.
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