3 US-seized Iranian oil tankers head across Atlantic towards US

• The vessels sailing (Majestic X, Tifani, and Lenore) were intercepted and seized by U.S. forces following a blockade of Iranian ports and maritime interdictions targeting Tehran's illicit oil export network.
• Maritime tracking platforms show two of the tankers off the coast of northern Brazil, while the third crossed into the Atlantic via the Cape route after its seizure.

Three Iran-linked oil tankers previously seized by the United States and carrying approximately six million barrels of Iranian crude oil were tracked sailing across the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday, heading toward the United States.

According to maritime intelligence service TankerTrackers.com, the confiscated oil cargo, valued at roughly $600 million, is making its way quietly across the Atlantic following a series of high-seas interdictions conducted by US forces.

Tracking data from maritime analytics firm Kpler shows that two of the vessels, the Majestic X and the Tifani, are currently positioned off the northern coast of Brazil. 

Both tankers were intercepted by US forces in April after loading oil in Iran, where their original transponders had falsely listed destination ports in China and Singapore.

The Majestic X briefly listed the United States as its destination on AIS tracking systems between late July and early August as it began its trans-Atlantic voyage from waters off Malaysia.

The third vessel, the Lenore, crossed into the Atlantic Ocean earlier this week via the Cape route off South Africa. U.S. forces boarded and seized the Lenore in early June in the Indian Ocean after it attempted to evade detection.

All three vessels were operating under Us economic sanctions intended to curb Iran's oil export revenues. The seizures occurred amid broader military interdictions and naval blockades targeting stateless and sanctioned vessels accused of providing material support to Tehran's energy trade.

The US Department of Defense previously stated that such interdictions are aimed at dismantling shadow banking and shipping networks used to bypass international trade restrictions. 

The vessels and their valuable cargoes are expected to undergo forfeiture proceedings upon arrival at US ports.