Iran seizes oil tanker in Gulf of Oman amid regional tensions

US and Iran Exchange Fire in Strait of Hormuz, Iran Seizes Oil Tanker

The US military and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, hours before Iran claimed to have captured an oil tanker. The incident occurred just days after a fragile ceasefire was established between the two nations.

According to MarineTraffic, the vessel seized by Iran is registered in Barbados and is called Ocean Koi. A spokesperson for the IRGC stated that the ship attempted to “disrupt oil exports and the interests of the Iranian nation.” State-owned Press TV released a video showing Iranian forces boarding and detaining the ship.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) separately reported that two Iranian-flagged tankers were disabled as they attempted to access Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman. CENTCOM commander Admiral Bradley Cooper stated that US forces remain committed to enforcing the blockade of vessels entering or leaving Iran.

Earlier, the US and Iran traded fire in the Strait of Hormuz, with President Donald Trump claiming that Iran had attacked three US Navy destroyers. However, Iran’s top joint military command accused the US of violating the ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker and another ship. The incident resulted in 10 sailors being wounded and five more missing.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the administration is still awaiting a response from Iran on its latest proposal for a more lasting end to the war. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance was meeting with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Washington, DC, to discuss the situation in Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei condemned the latest attacks, stating that Tehran is reviewing the proposal and considering a response. He also warned that Iran’s forces are closely monitoring the situation and fully ready to respond to any “aggression and adventurism.”

Source: Al Jazeera