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Once again the tension between America and Iran has come to the fore in the Arabian Sea. The US military stopped a merchant ship which was allegedly carrying Iranian oil bypassing the sanctions. This action has created a stir globally and has sparked a new debate regarding maritime security. America’s Central Command informed on Saturday that it has stopped a merchant ship in the Arabian Sea. The name of this ship has been described as “Sevan”.

According to America, this ship was trying to break the sanctions imposed on Iran and transport oil and gas products to the international market. After the warning from the US Army, the ship has changed direction and is now returning towards Iran. During this entire action, the US Navy helicopter was keeping an eye on the ship.

What is ‘Shadow Fleet’?

The ship that was stopped is said to be part of the so-called “Shadow Fleet”. This is a group of 19 ships, which works to secretly transport Iran’s oil and gas to other countries. America has banned all these ships. It is alleged that these ships secretly sell many energy products including propane and butane abroad, due to which Iran gets huge economic benefits.

Action taken from USS Pinckney

This operation was carried out from the US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney. A helicopter took off from this warship and stopped the ship “Sevan” in the middle of the sea. Instructions were given to the ship through helicopter to follow American orders. The captain and crew of the ship accepted these instructions without protest and decided to return.

How many ships have been stopped so far?

According to the US Central Command, ever since this maritime ban has been implemented, 37 ships have been stopped or sent back. “Sevan” is also included in these ships. All these ships are believed to be part of Iran’s “shadow fleet”, which was trying to continue oil and gas trade despite sanctions.

This strictness of America can have a direct impact on Iran’s economy. Oil and gas are Iran’s biggest source of income. If the export of these products stops, the country may have to suffer huge economic losses. America says that this step has been taken with the aim of putting pressure on Iran and forcing it to follow international rules.

Increasing maritime tension and global impact

After this incident, tension in the Arabian Sea has increased further. Relations between Iran and America are already tense, and now such actions could further complicate the situation. Many countries of the world are keeping an eye on this situation, because it can also affect international trade and oil prices. The possibility of movement in the energy market cannot be ruled out.