World
Iranian military speedboat patrolling the waters as a tanker prepares to dock at the oil facility on Kharg Island, Iran. File photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker en route from the United Arab Emirates to Singapore unexpectedly changed direction and started moving toward Iranian territorial waters, the British maritime security firm Ambrey stated on Friday.
According to Ambrey, the tanker, the Talara, was approached by three small boats as it transited southbound through the Strait of Hormuz and later deviated from its course in the Gulf of Oman.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre labeled the tanker’s movement as “suspicious” and said it was alerted to an incident occurring 20 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the UAE.
"Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO," it said.
A United States defense official said Iran had seized the ship, AP reported. Iran has not commented on the incident.
The Strait of Hormuz, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, handling a significant portion of global oil shipments. Iran has seized ships in the area in the past, including one last year that Tehran said was linked to Israel.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close off the Strait of Hormuz. After the war with Israel in June, Iranian lawmaker Esmaeil Kowsari told state-run Press TV that Tehran is considering the possibility of closing the strategic waterway in response to Israeli military actions.
According to Ambrey, the tanker, the Talara, was approached by three small boats as it transited southbound through the Strait of Hormuz and later deviated from its course in the Gulf of Oman.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre labeled the tanker’s movement as “suspicious” and said it was alerted to an incident occurring 20 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the UAE.
"Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO," it said.
A United States defense official said Iran had seized the ship, AP reported. Iran has not commented on the incident.
The Strait of Hormuz, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, handling a significant portion of global oil shipments. Iran has seized ships in the area in the past, including one last year that Tehran said was linked to Israel.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close off the Strait of Hormuz. After the war with Israel in June, Iranian lawmaker Esmaeil Kowsari told state-run Press TV that Tehran is considering the possibility of closing the strategic waterway in response to Israeli military actions.
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