Iran has reportedly seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, renaming it St Nicholas, and is transferring it to an Iranian port. This action is said to be in retaliation for the United States’ confiscation of the same vessel and its oil last year.
The Iranian Navy, following a court order, claimed the seizure as a response to the alleged theft of oil by the U.S. regime.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that at least four armed individuals boarded the vessel in the Gulf of Oman. The ship altered its course towards Iranian territorial waters, and communication was lost after the ship’s Company Security Officer reported hearing unknown voices.
This incident occurs amid heightened tensions in the region, with container shipping in the Red Sea already impacted by attacks from Iran-backed Houthi fighters. The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil chokepoint, raises concerns about potential disruptions to global oil exports.
The seized vessel, previously known as Suez Rajan, was involved in a dispute between the U.S. and Iran last year, leading to its confiscation by the U.S. government. The vessel was accused of covertly selling and transporting Iranian oil abroad.
Oil prices rose around 3% following the news, and concerns persist about the potential escalation of regional conflicts affecting crude exports.
The seized tanker, initially flagged as Marshall Islands-registered, had been involved in a scheme linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to U.S. Department of Justice documents from last year.
