WANA (Apr 21) – The U.S. Department of Defense announced that its military has stopped and inspected the tanker “Tifani” in the area under the command of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

 

According to a Pentagon statement, the operation included U.S. forces boarding the tanker. The Department of Defense claimed that the ship was operating under the flag of Botswana but was “without valid maritime registration” at the time of interception.

 

The Pentagon also stated that the tanker was on the U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions list and was being pursued for allegedly “providing material support to Iran.”

 

Two days ago, the U.S. also attacked the Iranian container ship “Touska”. This incident occurred on the evening of Sunday, April 19, 2026, near Iran’s coast in the Gulf of Oman and involved the detention of the crew.

 

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack as piracy, a terrorist act, and a violation of the ceasefire, emphasizing the immediate release of the vessel and its crew. Iran also warned that the U.S. would bear full responsibility for any further escalation in the region.