Tehran claims it seized the vessel after it collided with an Iranian ship, killing two and injuring several
27 (EUROPA PRESS)
The United States Navy has assured that Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval forces have intercepted an oil tanker in international waters in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, an initiative that Washington considers illegal and a risk to “security and stability” in the region. .
The US Fifth Fleet, which is in charge of this area, has reported in a statement that Iranian forces stopped the ship, flying the Marshall Islands flag, at 1:15 p.m. (local time). The cargo ship issued an alert signal during this incident, according to US forces, who are “monitoring the situation.”
“The Iranian government should immediately release the tanker,” claimed the Fifth Flora, which accused Tehran of “threatening maritime security and the global economy” with its “continuous accusation of ships and interference in navigation rights.” Not surprisingly, the area is a key transit point for goods, including oil.
The United States estimates that Iran has “illegally” interdicted at least five commercial ships in the last two years, although Iranian authorities often correct or even deny the accusations they receive, especially when those who pronounce them are US authorities.
Later, Iran has affirmed that the vessel, with the flag of the Marshall Islands, was intercepted after it collided the day before with an Iranian ship in the waters of the Persian Gulf, fleeing, contrary to international order, after causing two deaths and several injured.
Tehran has specified that, upon a request from the Maritime Surveillance and Rescue Center (MRCC), the Navy pursued the tanker, capturing it and directing it to “coastal waters of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the state news agency IRNA reported.
