Iran has reportedly taken control of a tanker carrying Iraqi crude oil destined for Turkey, in retaliation for a similar incident last year when the United States confiscated the same vessel and its oil.
The seizure, which occurred in the Gulf of Oman, was carried out by the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, citing a court order, as reported by the state-run IRNA news agency.
According to Iranian news agency Fars, the seizure of the St Nikolas tanker was described by Iran's Navy as a response to the United States' previous theft of Iranian oil.
The United States has condemned the action, calling it an "unlawful seizure," and has urged Iran to release the ship and its crew immediately.
This development follows a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthis.
The Houthis claim these attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel's assault on the territory.
The incidents have heightened tensions in the region, especially following a United Nations Security Council vote condemning the Houthis.
While the Houthis' focus has been on the Bab al-Mandab Strait, southwest of the Arabian Peninsula, the recent seizure near the Strait of Hormuz, between Oman and Iran, adds another dimension to the Red Sea situation affecting sea trade through the Suez Canal.
The British maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the incident began around 7:30 am (03:30 GMT) when armed men boarded the Marshall Islands-flagged St Nikolas, located about 50 nautical miles east of Sohar in Oman, heading towards Bandar-e-Jask in Iran.
TankerTrackers.com, a global crude oil shipment tracking platform, revealed that the tanker was transporting "Iraqi oil" and had previously been known as the Suez Rajan.
Ambrey mentioned that the tanker, recently renamed, had faced legal consequences and fines for carrying sanctioned Iranian oil, leading to the confiscation of one million barrels of Iranian crude by US authorities.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), associated with the British military, confirmed that the incident occurred in the waters between Oman and Iran.
The ship's security manager reported hearing "unknown voices over the phone" alongside the ship's captain.
Ambrey noted that the boarding individuals covered surveillance cameras, and as the tanker approached Bandar-e-Jask, its tracker was turned off.
The St Nikolas, sailing from the Iraqi port of Basra to Turkey, had a crew of 19, including 18 Filipino nationals and one Greek national.
The operator stated that the tanker was chartered by Turkish oil refiner Tupras.
The Gulf of Oman, a crucial route for the oil industry between Oman and Iran, has witnessed multiple hijackings and attacks over the years, often involving Iran.
Tensions in the region have escalated since the collapse of Iran's nuclear deal, leading to confrontations between Iran and the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, responsible for patrolling the Middle East.
The US and its allies have also been involved in seizing Iranian oil cargoes since 2019, resulting in a series of Middle East attacks attributed to Iran, as well as ship seizures by military and paramilitary forces, posing a threat to global shipping. – Source: Al Jazeera
