In a recent move to enforce sanctions, the US seized Iranian oil from a tanker at sea, according to three sources. In retaliation, Iran confiscated another oil-laden tanker just days later, as reported by maritime security firm Ambrey. This latest incident has heightened the ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran, which stem from US sanctions imposed due to Iran's nuclear program.
Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, while the US believes the country is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon. Ambrey stated that the US confiscation took place at least five days before Iran's action on Thursday, adding that the seizure by the Iranian Navy was in response to the US action.
The sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, stated that the US gained control of the oil cargo on the Marshall Islands tanker Suez Rajan after obtaining a court order. Ship tracking data revealed the tanker's last reported position was near southern Africa on April 22.
Neither Empire Navigation, the Greece-based manager of the vessel, nor the US Department of Justice has responded to requests for comment. On Thursday, the US Navy reported that Iran had seized a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker in the Gulf of Oman, marking the most recent in a series of seizures or attacks by Tehran on commercial vessels in the region.
Iranian state TV claimed on Friday that the tanker ignored radio calls for eight hours after colliding with an Iranian boat, resulting in several crew members being injured and three reported missing. Iranian Deputy Navy Commander Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajodini told the broadcaster that force was used only after the vessel failed to cooperate despite attempts to communicate.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed awareness of the Gulf of Oman seizure and reiterated support for international maritime law, according to a UN spokesperson on Friday.
The US's attempt last year to confiscate a cargo of Iranian oil near Greece led to Tehran seizing two Greek tankers in the Gulf. Greece's supreme court later ordered the cargo to be returned to Iran, and the two Greek tankers were subsequently released.
In a move likely to worsen the situation, 12 US senators urged President Joe Biden on Thursday to eliminate Treasury Department policy obstacles that have prevented the Department of Homeland Security from seizing Iranian oil shipments for over a year. In 2020, the US captured four Iranian fuel cargoes on foreign ships headed for Venezuela and transferred them to two other vessels, which then sailed to the US with the assistance of undisclosed foreign partners.
