US forces seize Iranian tankers MT Tifani and Majestic X
Updated
Updated · Fox News · May 4
US forces seize Iranian tankers MT Tifani and Majestic X
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · May 4
The operation captured 1.9 million barrels of oil, while 39 vessels have been turned back, boarded or seized since 13 April across the Hormuz campaign.
US Marines also boarded Blue Star III and earlier took the Iranian-flagged Touska after USS Spruance disabled it, as Washington says the blockade is tightening economic pressure on Tehran.
The report says the interdictions are unsettling China, a major buyer of Iranian and Russian oil, and signalling that other sanctions-evading shadow fleets could face similar action.
With Iran threatening retaliation, how will the world’s most critical oil chokepoint be secured for global trade?
Is the U.S. naval blockade a lawful enforcement action or a move risking a global economic crisis?
As global supply chains falter, which nations are positioned to win the emerging energy war?
Operation Epic Fury: U.S. Seizure of 39 Iranian Shadow Fleet Tankers and Its Global Impact
Overview
In late April 2026, the U.S. Navy launched Operation Epic Fury, seizing 39 Iranian oil tankers, including the MT Tifani and MT Majestic X, to disrupt Iran's shadow fleet and cut off revenue supporting its nuclear program and regional proxies. Using specialized Marine Corps teams and innovative boarding tactics, seized vessels were diverted to secure locations. These actions, legally justified by treating the tankers as stateless and Iranian oil as contraband, intensified tensions, prompting Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz and attack commercial ships, which drove oil prices above $100 per barrel. While the seizures inflicted financial pain on Iran, they also risked escalation, strained U.S. resources, and benefited rivals like China and Russia amid global economic uncertainty.