TEHRAN: In retaliation for the alleged “theft” of its oil by the United States, Iran’s navy has seized a ship off the coast of Oman. The vessel, initially named Suez Rajan and later renamed St Nikolas, was reportedly boarded by armed individuals wearing military-style black uniforms and masks.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the ship changed course towards Iran’s Bandar-e-Jask.
Iran’s state media reported that the Navy seized the ship, asserting it was in accordance with a court order. The action is said to be a response to the “violation committed by the Suez Rajan ship” and the claimed “theft of Iranian oil by the United States.” This incident follows the US seizure of the Suez Rajan in September 2023, accused of transporting sanctioned Iranian oil allegedly intended for sale to China.
Communications have been lost with the seized vessel, which had a crew of 19 members. The ship, loaded with 145,000 tonnes of crude oil, was en route from Basra, Iraq, to Aliaga, Turkey, via the Suez Canal.
The Gulf of Oman, a crucial route for the oil industry, has witnessed various incidents, often involving Iran. Heightened alert in the region persists due to recent drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi resistance group in the Red Sea. The situation adds tension to the already strained relations between Iran and the United States amid US sanctions targeting Iranian oil and petrochemical sales.
