Iran IRGC special forces seize US civilian tanker Suez Rajan in Oman Sea.

According to information published by Tasnim on January 11, 2024, the Islamic Republic of Iran Naval Forces have seized an American oil tanker in the Oman Sea.
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Illustration image. (Picture source: Tasnim)

The situation reportedly developed following a prior incident involving the ship Suez Rajan, which was allegedly connected to the theft of Iranian oil. The American tanker, renamed Nicholas ST, was seized under a judicial order by Iranian authorities, who have accused it of being part of the oil theft operation.

The tanker, accused of illicitly transporting Iranian oil to American ports, was intercepted during its voyage in the Oman Sea. Reports of armed individuals boarding a ship in the vicinity have also emerged.

Context

A significant development is the entry of Iran's Alborz warship into the Red Sea, coinciding with heightened tensions in the region. This move by Iran comes in the context of a US-led maritime coalition being deployed in the Red Sea to counter attacks from Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

These attacks have been targeting shipping vessels since November, disrupting international trade routes and prompting some shipping companies to alter their routes to avoid the Red Sea​​.

The United Nations Security Council has expressed serious concerns about these developments, particularly the attacks on commercial shipping by the Houthis. These attacks pose a threat to international maritime security and disrupt the movement of essential goods like food and fuel.

In response to these attacks, the US and its allies have taken measures to protect shipping in the Red Sea. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned of consequences for the Houthis if the attacks continue.

The U.S.-led coalition has launched patrols and intercepted missiles in the Red Sea, although this approach has faced some criticism and calls for restraint.