Overview
- U.S. forces tracked the Panamanian‑flagged Veronica III from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean and conducted a right‑of‑visit boarding in the INDOPACOM region.
- The Pentagon released video of troops boarding the vessel and described the operation as carried out without incident.
- The tanker is listed by the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC for Iran‑linked activity, and has a history tied to shadow‑fleet movements.
- Officials did not say whether the ship was formally seized or transferred to U.S. control, leaving its disposition unresolved.
- The action follows last week’s interdiction of the Aquila II and is part of a broader effort to disrupt tankers moving sanctioned Venezuelan crude, with tracking groups reporting the Veronica III left Venezuela on January 3 carrying nearly 2 million barrels.