The Iranian state media channel Fars is reporting that Iranian forces have seized an oil tanker that was headed for port in Turkey in retaliation for last year’s seizure by the United States of the same vessel.
The U.S. confiscated oil from the tanker that was believed to be destined for China in violation of U.S. sanctions.
“After the theft of Iranian oil by the United States last year, St Nikolas tanker was seized by Iran’s Navy this morning with a judicial order … it is en route to Iranian ports,” Fars news agency reported, citing a statement by the Navy, according to Reuters.
The seizure occurred at about 6:30 a.m. local time and was thought to have been carried out by four to five armed individuals wearing black paramilitary gear and masks. The ship, now named St Nikolas and flying a Marshall Islands flag, has a crew of 19. The ship was previously called the Suez Rajan but was renamed after the U.S. seizure.
“Iran’s actions are contrary to international law and threaten maritime security and stability,” the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet commander, Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, said in a statement.
According to the private British security agency Ambrey, GPS tracking on the tanker was turned off shortly after the ship made an abrupt change in direction toward the Iranian oil refinery port of Bander-e-Jask. The ship was approximately 50 nautical miles east of Oman and was heading toward the Suez Canal when the attack occurred.
The St Nikolas was loaded with 145,000 metric tons of crude oil from Iraq when it was seized by Iran. Last year, when the United States captured the ship, it was carrying 945,000 metric tons of crude believed to have been sent by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces and was en route to China.
The seizure comes amid heightened tensions. Yemen-backed Houthi rebels have instigated drone and missile attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea south of where the seizure happened. The Houthi attacks resulted in a massive missile and aerial bombing attack by U.S. and UK forces on Thursday, which struck 60 targets in 16 locations.
