US Preparing to Board Iran-Linked Ships as Pressure on Tehran Builds--Report

Source: Newsweek

Published Apr 18, 2026 at 02:54 PM EDT


The U.S. military will reportedly board and seize Iran-linked vessels in international waters as part of Operation Economic Fury, the Trump administration's plan to apply economic pressure on Tehran and force a peace deal, according to the Wall Street Journal on Saturday. The Journal, which cited U.S. officials, said the operation intends to expand the U.S. naval crackdown beyond the Middle East.Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOMM) by email on Saturday afternoon for comment.

Why It Matters

Since the February 28 launch of Operation Epic Fury, the White House has repeatedly tied its pressure campaign to Iran’s energy lifelines, warning if Tehran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. was prepared to escalate by targeting economic infrastructure such as power plants and oil facilities. Those threats were framed by President Donald Trump as leverage to force “free traffic of oil and everything else” through the strait, with officials and allies watching the economic fallout ripple through markets.

Over time, the pressure moved from rhetoric to enforcement. U.S. officials described a naval blockade focused on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas as a direct attempt to cut off Iran’s oil revenue and compel acceptance of U.S. terms. Even amid ceasefire maneuvering, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled the blockade would continue “as long as it takes,” with discussion of widening interdictions as part of tightening economic screws.

Iran, meanwhile, has applied its own economic pressure by constricting, and at points, allegedly monetizing, access to the chokepoint, including accounts of controlled or selective passage in exchange for “security fees.” Reporting also described tanker attacks and terminal closures that fed oil-price spikes and broader market instability, amplifying the costs of disruption beyond the region. In the U.S., that translated into political and pocketbook stress as energy turmoil pushed gas prices sharply higher.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/us-preparing-board-iran-linked-ships-pressure-tehran-buildsreport-11849368