US forces intercepted a cargo vessel traveling from China to Iran in November, in a rare maritime operation carried out under the Trump administration amid stricter enforcement of sanctions on Tehran.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, American military personnel boarded the ship several hundred miles off the coast of Sri Lanka. The interception marked the first known US action against a China-to-Iran cargo shipment in several years.
Officials familiar with the operation said the vessel was carrying materials considered “potentially useful for Iran’s conventional weapons.” However, they noted that the items were classified as dual-use goods, meaning they could be used for both civilian and military purposes. After the inspection by US special operations forces, the ship was permitted to continue its journey toward Iran.
The operation reflects Washington’s renewed focus on enforcing sanctions against Iran and monitoring supply routes that could support its military capabilities.
The seizure comes amid a series of similar actions. Weeks after the China-Iran interception, US authorities also captured an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela over alleged sanctions violations, signaling a broader maritime enforcement strategy.
China has strongly criticized these moves. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the US actions, saying Beijing opposes what it described as unilateral and illegal sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction,” arguing they violate international law.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the administration remains firm on sanctions enforcement and has not ruled out further vessel seizures, particularly in waters near Venezuela, as part of its effort to counter sanctions evasion.
