The Navy of the Iranian regime military has introduced the seizure of the oil tanker St. Nicholas within the Gulf of Oman.
On January 11, the Navy’s public relations division said that the seizure was in retaliation for the theft of an Iranian oil cargo by the United States.
According to the Tasnim News Agency, the brand new title of the oil tanker is Suez Rajan. It was seized in May 2023 on account of Washington’s sanctions in opposition to the regime.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had beforehand reported that the vessel was focused by “4 to 5 armed males” whereas it was roughly 50 nautical miles east of the coast of Oman, close to the Sohar Port.
The Greek transport firm Empire Navigation confirmed this information and reported that the crew of the oil tanker consists of 19 sailors from the Philippines and one Greek nationwide.
The vessel had loaded cargo within the port of Basra and was heading in the direction of the Suez Canal after which to the port metropolis of Aliaga in Turkey.
All contact with St. Nicholas was misplaced, and the ship’s security officer reported listening to unidentified voices on the ship. After that, additional makes an attempt to contact the ship have been unsuccessful.
Ambrey, a British maritime safety firm, introduced that the monitoring system of the oil tanker was turned off when it was heading in the direction of the Iranian port of Jask. According to Ambrey, six males carrying navy uniforms boarded the ship.
The oil tanker was concerned in oil smuggling for Iran final yr and was accused of violating US sanctions. The US Navy seized the oil tanker and renamed it Suez Rajan after unloading the crude oil.
Since the start of the struggle in Gaza, Iranian-supported Houthi rebels have carried out not less than 26 assaults on industrial transport traces within the Red Sea, resulting in unprecedented maritime tensions within the area.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that the continuing assaults by Houthi rebels backed by the Iranian regime on industrial transport traces within the Red Sea can have “penalties.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council demanded that the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who’re supported by the Iranian regime, instantly stop assaults on ships within the Red Sea. The council additionally supported the United States-led coalition’s response to guard the ships.
Attacks by Iran-backed militias on maritime targets within the Red Sea have disrupted transport within the area, posing a serious risk to world commerce.