Iran seizes oil tanker in strategic Strait of Hormuz

Iran bắt giữ tàu chở dầu tại eo biển chiến lược Hormuz - 1 — Image of Iranian speedboat approaching the oil tanker Niovi on May 3 (Photo: US Navy).

In a statement released on May 3, the US Navy's 5th Fleet accused Iran of seizing an oil tanker for the second time in a week in the waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

Accordingly, the Panama-flagged oil tanker Niovi was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at 6:20 a.m. on May 3 while it was traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian speedboats were mobilized for this capture mission.

Speaking after the incident, Iran confirmed that the Panamanian tanker had been detained by order of the country's court. However, the specific reason for the arrest has not been announced.

Earlier, the US Navy said on April 27 that Iran had seized the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Advantage Sweet in the Gulf of Oman. According to the US Navy, the ship was illegally seized while operating in international waters.

The US Navy also criticized Iran for "repeatedly violating freedom of navigation in the region, thereby posing a threat to maritime security and the global economy ". According to the US Navy, in the past 2 years, Iran has illegally seized at least 5 commercial ships in the Middle East.

Iranian state media later spoke out about the incident. Citing sources from the Iranian military, the media confirmed that the tanker Advantage Sweet had been seized after colliding with an Iranian ship, injuring several sailors.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, is considered the "throat" of world oil because up to 40% of global oil is transported through this route.

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