US says it will pursue ships in Pacific Ocean supporting Iran

US says it will pursue ships in Pacific Ocean supporting Iran Submitted by Sean Mathews on Thu, 04/16/2026 - 16:51 Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says the US military will also target 'dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil' US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth looks on as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon, on 16 April 2026 (Saul Loeb/AFP) Off The US military said on Thursday that it will intercept any vessel, including those in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, that it believes is providing "material support" to Iran . Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at the Pentagon that the "Joint Force, through operations and activities in other areas of responsibility, like the Pacific… will actively pursue any Iranian-flagged vessel, or any vessel, attempting to provide material support to Iran". "This includes dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil," he added.