Iran has claimed its navy seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman during a special operation, accusing the vessel of attempting to disrupt Iranian oil exports and damage the country’s national interests.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the operation was carried out under a resolution issued by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a judicial order.

In a statement, the Iranian navy said naval commandos and marine forces captured the tanker, identified as “Ocean Koi,” while it was transporting an Iranian oil shipment in the Gulf of Oman.

“Iran Navy commandos seized the oil tanker OCEAN KOI in a special operation after it attempted to disrupt Iran’s oil exports and national interests,” Iran’s Press TV said in a post on X.

Iranian authorities alleged that the tanker was attempting to exploit the regional situation to interfere with Iran’s oil exports and harm the interests of the Iranian nation.

The statement said the tanker was later escorted to Iran’s southern coast and handed over to judicial authorities following the operation.

Iranian naval officials added that the country would continue taking “decisive measures” to defend Iran’s interests and assets in its territorial waters and warned that no leniency would be shown toward violations or acts of aggression.

The development came as tensions between Iran and the United States continue to intensify over regional security and oil shipments.

Separately, the United States Central Command said on Friday that American forces were currently preventing more than 70 oil tankers from entering or leaving Iranian ports.

In a statement posted on X, CENTCOM said: “There are currently more than 70 tankers that U.S. forces are preventing from entering or leaving Iranian ports. These commercial ships have the capacity to transport over 166 million barrels of Iranian oil worth an estimated $13 billion-plus.”

The US military command did not provide additional operational details regarding the claim.

According to CENTCOM, the commercial vessels collectively have the capacity to transport more than 166 million barrels of Iranian oil, valued at over $13 billion.

The competing claims emerged at a time when maritime security, sanctions enforcement and regional military tensions involving Iran and the United States remain under close international scrutiny.