Iranian navy seizes oil tanker in the Arabian Sea it believes to belong to it
The Iranian navy announced on Thursday (January 11th) that it had boarded an oil tanker in the Arabian Sea, in reaction to the seizure of one million Iranian barrels by the United States a few months ago.
The oil tanker "Saint Nikolas", in Tokyo Bay, Japan, in 2020. via REUTERS - DAISUKE NIMURA
By: RFI Follow
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With our correspondent in Tehran, Siavosh Ghazi
According to the Iranian navy's statement, the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Saint Nikolas was directed to the port of Jask, in the far southeast of Iran.
Tehran says the ship, which was previously called Suez Rajan, was seized by the U.S. while carrying one million barrels of Iranian oil. The oil had been unloaded at a U.S. port and confiscated by the U.S.
At the time, last year, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said that "the U.S. attack on Iran's interests will not go unanswered."
Iran maintains that the tanker was seized in retaliation for the U.S. action. The Iranian navy boarded the ship in the Arabian Sea by court order. The tanker's cargo should be seized.
In recent years, several incidents involving Iran have taken place in this area. At a time when maritime traffic in the Red Sea is being severely disrupted by the actions of the Houthis, Tehran's allies, to support the Palestinians, the seizure of this tanker will provoke new tensions between Iran and the United States.
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The Iranian government must immediately release the boat and its crew US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel has already reacted, denouncing an "illegal" seizure that "disrupts international trade".
Read alsoFishing boats misrepresented as warships
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