Oman-Iran: Iran on Thursday captured a commercial ship in the Gulf of Oman. According to a US Navy spokesman, the ship is suspected of being involved in smuggling. He said that the Navy, after monitoring the entire development, decided not to take any action.
Britain’s maritime security company said it had been informed of the seizure of a Tanzanian-flagged vessel near the Saudi Arabian port of Dammam. The company said Iran often seizes commercial vessels suspected of smuggling oil.
Earlier on Wednesday, the US Navy claimed that it had prevented Iran from seizing two commercial oil tankers, the Richmond Voyager. According to Reuters, the US Navy reported that two tankers with the flag of the Bahamas were passing through the Gulf of Oman. Then Iran’s Navy Vessel attacked them.
The US Navy reported that it had received a distress call from the Richmond Voyager. It then sent its destroyer USS Mekal there, seeing which the Iranian ship changed its course.
At the same time, according to Iran, it had received orders from the court to seize the tanker. Iran claimed that a tanker collided with their ship in the Gulf of Oman. Because of this, 5 crew members aboard the ship were injured, after which they were ordered to seize it.