By Kathryn Armstrong BBC News
January 11, 2024
picture caption,
Iran has threatened to take motion towards the U.S. seizure of the ship, which was crusing beneath the identify Suez Rajan, final 12 months (file picture)
Iran has seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker within the Gulf of Oman.
Masked gunmen reportedly boarded the St. Nicholas close to the Omani port of Sohar and ordered it to move to a port in Iran.
Iranian state media, citing the navy, stated the seizure was in retaliation for the U.S. seizure of the ship and oil final 12 months.
The St. Nicholas was crusing between the Iraqi port of Basra and its vacation spot in Turkey.
Iranian state media cited the navy as saying the ship was Greek-owned however American-made.
The ship was carrying 145,000 tons of crude oil and had a crew of 18 Filipinos and one Greek, in accordance with administration firm Empire Navigation.
The St. Nicholas, previously referred to as the Suez Rajan, was seized by the United States in April as a part of sanctions enforcement towards Iran.
Suez Rajan Limited, which had beforehand chartered the ship, later pleaded responsible to conspiring to violate sanctions by secretly promoting and transporting oil abroad on behalf of Iran.
The United States known as the seizure the most recent try by Iran to disrupt worldwide commerce and known as for the quick launch of the ship and its crew.
“We imagine that these kind of actions will solely enhance uncertainty for industrial delivery and the regional and international economic system,” stated U.S. State Department spokesman Vedant Patel.
This newest act seems to be separate from assaults carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels within the Red Sea on the opposite aspect of the Arabian Peninsula.
Thursday’s incident occurred in waters exterior the Houthis’ typical operational waters. The Houthis have attacked ships suspected of getting ties to Israel in retaliation for his or her actions in Gaza.
On Tuesday night time, carrier-based plane and warships shot down 21 drones and missiles launched by Iranian-backed teams.
The United Nations Security Council handed a decision on Wednesday calling for a right away finish to the Houthi offensive.