US intercepts cargo from China to Iran in the Indian Ocean
Last month, a US special operations unit conducted a rare naval operation in the Indian Ocean and seized cargo from a Chinese ship bound for Iran. This was reported by a US official on condition of anonymity. The operation took place a few hundred miles off the coast of Sri Lanka after a long period of surveillance of the ship's route.The Public with reference to NYTimes.
According to the US, the seized cargo consisted of dual-use components. Such parts can be used both in civilian industry and for the production of conventional weapons, including missiles and drones. After the confiscation of the cargo, the vessel was allowed to continue its journey.
The incident comes amid tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and after a brief but intense war this summer between Iran, Israel and the United States. During the 12 days of fighting, more than 1,000 people were killed and US stealth bombers struck Iranian nuclear facilities. Washington has claimed a significant weakening of Iran's nuclear programme, but analysts warn of the risk of a new conflict.
According to US intelligence, Iran is actively restoring its stockpile of long-range missiles and drones, working on it around the clock. The United States is increasingly focused on blocking the supply of microelectronics and software, which are critical to modern guidance systems and drones and are difficult to target with direct sanctions.
