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US intercepts merchant vessel in Arabian Sea

USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) near what the US Central Command said was a vessel attempting to sail to an Iranian port, as it enforces the US blockade on Iranian ports. — Reuters
 
USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) near what the US Central Command said was a vessel attempting to sail to an Iranian port, as it enforces the US blockade on Iranian ports. — Reuters

US ⁠Central Command said that it intercepted ​a merchant vessel ​trying to get through the blockade of Iran. The ship, identified as the ⁠Sevan, was part of ⁠a 19-vessel “shadow fleet” transporting Iranian oil and gas products to foreign markets, the ‌US military said. ​Central Command ⁠said it was ​intercepted in the Arabian ‌Sea by a US Navy helicopter from ​the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney and was “currently complying with US military direction to turn back to Iran under escort.” Since the blockade began, 37 ships have been “redirected,” the ​US military said. — Reuters