US Navy: Iran seizes oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran on Wednesday seized a Panamanian-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, the second such capture by Tehran in recent days, the U.S. Navy said.
The Navy based in the Middle East 5th Fleet identified the vessel as the Niovi. He said that the Iranian paramilitaries Revolutionary Guard seized the ship.
The Navy released photos of a dozen Guard vessels surrounding the tanker. These vessels “forced the tanker to reverse and head into Iranian territorial waters off Bandar Abbas, Iran,” the navy said.
“Iran’s actions are contrary to international law and disrupt regional security and stability,” the 5th Fleet said in a statement. “Iran’s continued harassment of ships and interference with navigational rights in regional waters is unwarranted, irresponsible and poses a current threat to maritime security and the global economy.”
Iran did not immediately acknowledge the seizure.
Iran last week seized a tanker carrying crude for Chevron amid wider tensions between Tehran and the United States over its nuclear program. The Advantage Sweet had 23 Indians and one Russian on board.
Wednesday’s seizure by Iran was the latest in a series of ship seizures and explosions to rock the region.
The incidents began after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which saw Tehran drastically limit its uranium enrichment in exchange the lifting of economic sanctions.
Additionally, the US Navy has blamed Iran for a series of limpet mine attacks on ships that damaged tankers in 2019, as well as a deadly drone attack on an Israeli-linked tanker that damaged tankers. killed two European crew members in 2021.
Tehran denies carrying out the attacks, but a wider shadow war between Iran and the West has been unfolding in the region’s turbulent waters. Seizures of Iranian tankers have been one of them since 2019. The last major seizure before recent days was when Iran seized two Greek tankers in May and held them until November.

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