"Operation Economic Fury" Expands to Global Waters... U.S. Preparing to Seize Iran-Linked Vessels

by Hwang Yoonju

Published 19 Apr.2026 04:12(KST)

Oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

The U.S. military is reportedly preparing to seize vessels linked to Iran on the high seas worldwide within the next few days. This move appears to be part of "Operation Economic Fury," previously announced by the Trump Administration, and is intended as a pressure strategy to force Iran to reopen the Hormuz Strait and abandon its nuclear program.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on April 18 (local time), the U.S. Navy is preparing to seize vessels associated with Iran not only in the Hormuz Strait but also on the high seas around the world.

The WSJ analyzed that "The Trump Administration's decision to intensify economic pressure on Iran is aimed at compelling the Iranian regime to reopen the strait and abandon its nuclear program, which has been a key issue in previous negotiations."

This was mentioned by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Kane on April 16. As the United States continues negotiations with Iran, it appears to be expanding naval enforcement beyond the Middle East. At a Department of Defense briefing at the time, Chairman Kane stated that the maritime blockade against Iran would not only cover the area around the Hormuz Strait, but that the U.S. Navy would also actively track any Iran-flagged vessels or ships attempting to provide material support to Iran in other operational areas such as the Pacific theater.

Chairman Kane also noted that the targets for tracking include groups of tankers that illegally transport crude oil and other goods to evade U.S. sanctions, commonly referred to as the "dark fleet," "shadow fleet," and "ghost fleet."

Currently, the legal grounds for seizing Iran-linked vessels are reportedly being prepared by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Department of Justice, and federal prosecutors. On April 15, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that "immediately after announcing Operation Economic Fury against Iran," the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on individuals, companies, and vessels within the network responsible for Iran's overseas oil sales.

OFAC explained that this network is led by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, who was the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and a top military adviser to Iran’s leader before being removed by the United States during the Iran war. The designation of these sanctions targets means that they could become legitimate targets for seizure by the U.S. military.

In addition, the Washington, D.C. federal prosecutor's office, led by Chief Prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, told the WSJ that it is working to track sanctioned entities and hostile networks supporting the Iranian regime.