The Wall Street Journal reports US special operations forces boarded a cargo ship traveling from China to Iran several hundred miles off Sri Lanka in November and seized items described as "potentially useful for Iran’s conventional weapons," while noting they were dual‑use. The vessel was allowed to continue after the interdiction. The move preceded a US seizure of an oil tanker bound for Venezuela, which China condemned, and the White House said further seizures are not ruled out.
US Special Operations Boarded Cargo Ship From China To Iran, Seizing 'Dual‑Use' Items — Report
A small motorboat passes across the water in front of docked container ships in Shenzhen, China [File: Cheng Xin/Getty Images]
US military personnel boarded a cargo vessel en route from China to Iran last month, the Wall Street Journal reported, in what officials describe as part of a more assertive US maritime posture. The boarding reportedly took place several hundred miles off Sri Lanka in November and involved special operations forces.
What Happened
According to anonymous officials cited by the Journal, personnel boarded the ship and removed material they described as "potentially useful for Iran's conventional weapons." The officials also stressed that the items were dual‑use — meaning they could have both civilian and military applications. After the interdiction, the vessel was allowed to continue its voyage.
Official Responses And Context
US Indo‑Pacific Command did not immediately confirm the account to the newspaper. Iran and China did not issue an immediate public response to the boarding report. The operation occurred weeks before US forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on allegations of sanctions violations; that tanker was later brought to a Texas port and drew sharp criticism from Beijing and Caracas.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing "opposes unilateral illicit sanctions and long‑arm jurisdiction that have no basis in international law or authorisation of the UN Security Council, and the abuse of sanctions."
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters the administration would not rule out further seizures of vessels near Venezuela. The actions have taken place against the backdrop of stringent US sanctions on Iran and heightened tensions over enforcement measures at sea.
Why It Matters
The episode highlights growing US maritime enforcement actions intended to counter proliferation risks and sanctions evasion. The dual‑use nature of the seized items underscores the legal and practical complexities of intercepting cargo on the high seas, where commercial and military uses can overlap.
