Iran seizes oil tanker near Oman after clash with US

Iranian state media reported that Iran had seized a tanker carrying Iraqi crude bound for Turkey in response to the US seizure of the same vessel and crude oil last year, a move that could heighten regional tensions. State news agency IRNA reported that "The Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran seized a US oil tanker in the Sea of ​​Oman following a court order."

Iran's Fars news agency reported: "Saint Nicholas Oil was seized by the Iranian Navy after the United States stole Iranian oil last year." The United States condemned this as an "illegal seizure" and demanded Iran's "immediate release of the vessel and crew."

The seizure comes after weeks of attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Iran-allied Houthi rebels in Yemen. The Houthi rebels said they were carrying out attacks on the Gaza Strip in solidarity with the Palestinians amid Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The groups' attacks have raised the possibility of retaliatory strikes by US-led forces patrolling the waterway, especially after the UN Security Council voted Wednesday to condemn the Houthis. But Thursday's incident took place near the Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran, with Houthi rebels concentrated in the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.

British maritime security company Ambrey said the incident occurred at 7:30 a.m. (03:30 GMT) when several gunmen boarded the St. Nicholas, Marshall Islands flag, 50 nautical miles east of Sohar, Oman. He then revealed that he started by straightening up. to Bandar. . eJask in Iran. TankerTrackers.com, which tracks and reports on crude oil shipments around the world, reported that the tanker was carrying "Iraqi oil" and was previously named the Suez Rajan.

Embry said the newly renamed tanker had previously been sued and fined for carrying Iranian oil that had been seized by US authorities. The years-long dispute ended when the US Department of Justice seized 1 million barrels of Iranian crude.

UK Maritime Merchant Operations (UKMTO), which is linked to the British military and alerts sailors in the Middle East, said the incident began in waters between Oman and Iran and was reported by safety managers. vessel. An "unknown voice on the phone" is heard next to the ship's captain. Embry said the men covered surveillance cameras as they boarded the ship. He added that the tank appeared to be heading towards Bandar-e-Jas when the tracker malfunctioned. According to MarineTraffic.com, the Saint Nicholas left the Iraqi port of Basra bound for Turkey.

The ship, which had a crew of 19, including 18 Filipinos and one Greek, was chartered by Turkish oil refiner Tupras, the operator said. The Gulf of Oman, a major oil industry hub that separates Oman from Iran, has been the site of frequent kidnappings and attacks involving Iran over the years.

Following the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal, the US Navy's 5th Fleet, which patrols the Middle East with Iran, has also engaged in a series of tense battles on the waterways. The United States and its allies have seized Iranian crude oil shipments since 2019, leading to a series of attacks blamed on Iran in the Middle East and the seizure of ships by US military and paramilitary forces, threatening global shipping.