Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy seized a Panama-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz early on Tuesday, marking the second such incident in less than a week.
Tags: Iran, US Navy, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, Panama-flagged, oil tanker, Strait of Hormuz, conflict, tension
In the latest escalation of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian forces have seized a Panama-flagged oil tanker, according to a statement by the US Navy. This marks the second such incident in less than a week, and underscores the ongoing conflict in the region.
The US Navy statement said that a dozen fast-attack craft belonging to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy swarmed the vessel in the middle of the strait, taking control of the tanker. The ship was reportedly bound for the United Arab Emirates at the time of the seizure.
The incident comes just days after Iranian forces detained another oil tanker, the MT Hankuk Chemi, in the same area. That ship was flying the South Korean flag and was carrying thousands of tonnes of chemicals. The crew, comprising nationals from South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar, were later released.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial shipping lane for global oil supplies, with around a fifth of the world's oil passing through the narrow waterway. It has long been a site of tension between Iran and its regional rivals, including the United States.
The latest incidents have raised fears of a wider conflict in the region, and have led to calls for diplomacy and dialogue
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