Iranian forces seize oil tanker after it passes Strait of Hormuz

Iranian forces seized an oil tanker sailing in the Gulf of Oman, diverting the vessel toward the country’s territorial waters on Friday after it passed the Strait of Hormuz, a US defence official said.The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Talara was sailing about 20 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy allegedly intercepted the vessel, according to Vanguard Tech in an alert. The vessel, which was headed for Singapore, was forced to head toward the Iranian coast instead, the alert said.

Iran hasn’t officially commented on the incident, and calls made to Iran’s Port and Maritime Organisation were not immediately answered.

The ship’s manager, Columbia Shipmanagement, said it lost contact with the vessel and has notified authorities. The UK Maritime Trade Operations said the incident is believed to be state-based activity. The episode bears the hallmarks of the vessel having been seized by Iranian forces. The UKMTO and another security agency Ambrey, had earlier flagged an incident in the area without naming any vessel.While authorities are still confirming the nature of the diversion, Friday’s event would add to concerns that Iran is turning to hijacking merchant ships again. The last such incident took place in April 2024, when Tehran captured an Israel-linked container ship in the region.

Talara had loaded fuels from Hamriyah, a deep-water port in the UAE’s northeast, last month, ship-tracking data show. It then sailed through the Strait of Hormuz to turn into the Gulf of Oman before the incident happened. The vessel had previously been approached by three small boats while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to Ambrey in its so-called war-risk alert.

The US defence official said the act was a violation of international law but otherwise declined to elaborate.

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