U.S. Oil Tanker Snatched: Iran’s Risky Maritime Maneuver

It has been claimed that Iran has seized a U.S. oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

The semi-official Tasnim news agency in Iran reported on the 11th, local time, that the Iranian navy, acting on a court order, had seized the U.S. oil tanker St. Nicholas in the Gulf of Oman earlier that morning. The report stated that the seizure was due to allegations that the tanker had previously taken Iranian oil and supplied it to the United States this year.

The Strait of Hormuz is a maritime route for major oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Earlier that morning, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) warned that unauthorized individuals wearing black masks and military uniforms had boarded the St. Nicholas, sailing near the Gulf of Oman.

The UKMTO call abruptly ended when an unknown voice came through the receiver, and the ship’s installed camera captured the individuals. They tried to call back but couldn’t get through.

St. Nicholas, traveling from Basra, Iraq, to Aliaga, Turkey, altered its course, heading for the Iranian port of Jask, as per satellite tracking data analyzed by AP.

Empire Navigation, the Greek shipping company responsible for operating St. Nicholas, clarified that the tanker currently has a crew of 19 people on board, comprising one Greek national and 18 Filipinos. In light of these developments,

Bloomberg highlighted the increasing tensions on a crucial global trade route, noting that Iran’s direct intervention in the seizure of St. Nicholas adds to the existing strain caused by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are already posing threats in the Red Sea.

Meanwhile, Iran is suspected of carrying out these actions in retaliation against Israel.

However, foreign media have pointed out that a Greek shipping company operates the ship without connection to the U.S. In response, Reuters reported, “It remains unclear why Iran has linked this ship to the U.S.”

The St. Nicholas had previously been a source of conflict between the U.S. and Iran due to suspicions of transporting Iranian oil in February 2022. After a year-long dispute, the U.S. Department of Justice seized one million barrels of Iranian crude oil. Empire Navigation admitted to the charge of smuggling Iranian crude oil and agreed to pay a $2.4 million fine in September of last year.