©(US Navy, AFP)
Iran's navy announced on Thursday, January 11, that it had seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman. This ship had been previously seized by the United States for transporting Iranian oil under sanctions.
Iran's navy has seized an oil tanker in Gulf of Oman waters following "a court order" authorizing the move, state media reported on Thursday.
"The Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran seized an American oil tanker in the waters of the Gulf of Oman in accordance with a court order," the official IRNA news agency said. The Islamic Revolution Guardian Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Tasnim News Agency also reported this event, quoting the Iranian Navy.
Earlier, the UK Maritime Safety Agency (UKMTO) and the private company Ambrey reported that armed men "dressed in military gear" boarded an oil tanker in the region.
"Four to five unauthorized persons" boarded a vessel sailing off the town of Sohar, in the north of the sultanate, UKMTO said.
The individuals were wearing "black military uniform" and masks of the same color, it added.
Later on Thursday, the United States demanded that Iran immediately release the ship and said it was looking at steps to take.
"The Iranian government must immediately release the ship and its crew. This unlawful seizure of a commercial vessel is just the latest behavior by Iran or enabled by Iran aimed at disrupting international commerce," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
According to private maritime security firm Ambrey, the incident occurred at around 7.30am (0330 GMT) on board the St Nikolas, a tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, which then headed for Bandar-e Jask on the southern coast of Iran.
Empire Navigation, the Greek group that runs the St Nikolas, said in a statement that it had "lost contact" with the ship and its 19 crew members, 18 Filipinos and one Greek.
The ship had been loading in Basra, Iraq, "a load of approximately 145,000 tonnes of crude oil bound for Aliaga (Turkey), via Suez Canal", it said.
"The intruders covered the ship's cameras", said Ambrey, quoting a security guard who had heard "unknown voices" on the telephone, as well as that of the captain.
This tanker, which was recently renamed, had been prosecuted in the past and fined for transporting Iranian oil under sanctions. The cargo was then confiscated by the American authorities, according to the British company.
"Iran has previously taken action against those it accuses of cooperating with the United States," it added.
The Gulf of Oman, an important shipping lane for the oil industry, has been the scene of a series of incidents and attacks in recent years, often involving Iran.
Shipping in the oil-rich region is also under pressure from drone and missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea.
With AFP
Iran's navy has seized an oil tanker in Gulf of Oman waters following "a court order" authorizing the move, state media reported on Thursday.
"The Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran seized an American oil tanker in the waters of the Gulf of Oman in accordance with a court order," the official IRNA news agency said. The Islamic Revolution Guardian Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Tasnim News Agency also reported this event, quoting the Iranian Navy.
Earlier, the UK Maritime Safety Agency (UKMTO) and the private company Ambrey reported that armed men "dressed in military gear" boarded an oil tanker in the region.
"Four to five unauthorized persons" boarded a vessel sailing off the town of Sohar, in the north of the sultanate, UKMTO said.
The individuals were wearing "black military uniform" and masks of the same color, it added.
Later on Thursday, the United States demanded that Iran immediately release the ship and said it was looking at steps to take.
"The Iranian government must immediately release the ship and its crew. This unlawful seizure of a commercial vessel is just the latest behavior by Iran or enabled by Iran aimed at disrupting international commerce," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
Previously Seized From Iran
According to private maritime security firm Ambrey, the incident occurred at around 7.30am (0330 GMT) on board the St Nikolas, a tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, which then headed for Bandar-e Jask on the southern coast of Iran.
Empire Navigation, the Greek group that runs the St Nikolas, said in a statement that it had "lost contact" with the ship and its 19 crew members, 18 Filipinos and one Greek.
The ship had been loading in Basra, Iraq, "a load of approximately 145,000 tonnes of crude oil bound for Aliaga (Turkey), via Suez Canal", it said.
"The intruders covered the ship's cameras", said Ambrey, quoting a security guard who had heard "unknown voices" on the telephone, as well as that of the captain.
This tanker, which was recently renamed, had been prosecuted in the past and fined for transporting Iranian oil under sanctions. The cargo was then confiscated by the American authorities, according to the British company.
"Iran has previously taken action against those it accuses of cooperating with the United States," it added.
The Gulf of Oman, an important shipping lane for the oil industry, has been the scene of a series of incidents and attacks in recent years, often involving Iran.
Shipping in the oil-rich region is also under pressure from drone and missile attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in the Red Sea.
With AFP
This Is Beirut
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