Iranian state media released footage showing the navy seizing an oil tanker identified as the Ocean Koi, claiming the vessel was disrupting the country's oil exports and national interests. The tanker, which was carrying Iranian oil, was escorted to Iran's southern coast. Shipping analysts said the vessel is Chinese owned and has operated under another name in recent months.

In February, the United States Treasury Department listed the ship as part of a so called shadow fleet used to transport Iranian oil in violation of sanctions. Maritime tracking firms reported that the tanker has moved Iranian hydrocarbons numerous times since 2021, loading cargo both at Iranian ports and through ship to ship transfers.

One maritime data company described the seizure as likely performative, noting the vessel's established history within Iran's trading network. The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, where roughly 1,600 ships remain stranded after Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz following attacks by the United States and Israel and amid a broader blockade that has disrupted regional shipping.