The US Department of Defense confirmed that its forces boarded the M/T Tifani, an oil tanker linked to Iran, in the Indian Ocean while it was transporting oil between Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The Pentagon labeled the vessel as 'stateless,' despite its Botswana flag, and stated that this operation was conducted without incident. This action aligns with the US's ongoing blockade of Iranian ports, which has expanded to include all Iranian-flagged ships and vessels suspected of supporting Iran. The Pentagon reiterated its commitment to disrupting illicit networks and interdicting vessels providing material support to Iran, asserting that international waters will not serve as a refuge for sanctioned vessels. The announcement coincides with the expiration of a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran, as diplomatic efforts are made to broker talks between the two nations. General Dan Caine, the US chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, indicated that the blockade would extend beyond Iranian waters, targeting vessels in the Pacific and elsewhere that may have departed prior to the blockade's implementation.