Iran intercepted, Wednesday, May 3, an oil tanker flying the flag of Panama while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the US Navy said, recalling that it was the second incident of its kind in the area in a week.

The incident took place in a highly strategic maritime area, an almost exclusive shipping route to connect the oil-rich Gulf countries to world markets.

The Niovi ship was en route from Dubai to the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates when it was chased by boats of the Revolutionary Guards' maritime corps, the Islamic Republic's ideological army, the Bahrain-based U.S. 5th Fleet said in a statement.

These Iranian ships "forced him to turn around and head towards Iranian territorial waters," she added.

The U.S. Navy released a video of the ship surrounded by a dozen boats.

Iran's Tasnim news agency reported the seizure by the Revolutionary Guards navy of a "foreign oil tanker in violation in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz." "No information has yet been released on the reasons for the seizure," she added.

According to the British maritime safety company Ambrey, the vessel, which was in Oman's territorial waters at the time of the incident, is being held by a Greek company.

"The Greek authorities have warned of the increased risks for Greek vessels (...) after the seizure of the Greek tanker Suezmax carrying Iranian oil" by US forces last month, Ambrey said.

The Iranian military had already seized on April 27 an oil tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands and bound for the United States in the Gulf of Oman.

Incidents that have become recurrent

Tehran said the ship tried to flee after a "collision" with an Iranian ship that injured people. According to the TankerTrackers.com website, the tanker is still at the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas.

Incidents have multiplied in this crucial maritime area for global oil transport since in 2018, when the United States withdrew from the international agreement to freeze Iran's nuclear program and reimposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Iran has intimidated or attacked 15 merchant ships in the past two years, the U.S. Navy said Wednesday, denouncing acts "contrary to international law."

The navy also spoke of "unjustified" and "irresponsible" measures that pose a "threat to maritime security and the global economy".

The United States regularly criticizes Tehran's actions in this maritime area.

In 2019, the Revolutionary Guards seized a British-flagged oil tanker, before releasing it two months later. And in 2022, an Iranian navy flotilla briefly seized two unmanned U.S. military ships in the Red Sea.

With AFP

The summary of the week France 24 invites you to look back on the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news with you everywhere! Download the France 24 app