Iran attempted to seize two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, firing shots at one of them before the U.S. Navy responded and forced Iran’s vessels to back off.
The ship that received fire displayed Bahamian flags but was Greek-owned and American-managed, according to Ambrey, a maritime intelligence service, the Associated Press reported. The ship was on its way to Singapore from the United Arab Emirates. The Navy said that the tanker targeted with gunfire did not report any casualties or major damage, and both oil tankers continued their voyages after the U.S. responded to distress calls.
“The Iranian navy did make attempts to seize commercial tankers lawfully transiting international waters,” said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, the AP reported. “The U.S. Navy responded immediately and prevented those seizures.”
BREAKING: Today @USNavy stopped the Iranian Navy from seizing commercial oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. #Iran pic.twitter.com/PQAa1YnXRp
— The Foreign Desk (@ForeignDeskNews) July 5, 2023
Iran seized two oil tankers in one week earlier this year, and the U.S. nemesis has taken at least five tankers in the past two years, according to the Navy. Most of the seizures occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of all crude oil must pass through. The Biden administration has increased ship patrols in the area since Iran’s escalated seizures.
Iran raided and seized an oil tanker bound for the U.S. in April, claiming the ship collided with an Iranian vessel. The country, designated by the U.S. as a state sponsor of terrorism, aired footage of the raid on state TV, showing Iranian commandos taking control of the tanker.
In April, the U.S. seized an Iranian oil ship and is soon expected to begin unloading oil from it. The ship is anchored off the coast of Texas, the Financial Times reported. The Iranian vessel was seized after being scrutinized for allegedly taking Iranian oil intended for China from another ship near Singapore.
The tanker seizures come as tensions between the U.S. and Iran rise over Iran’s nuclear program. After former President Donald Trump ended the nuclear deal with Iran, reports indicate that the Biden administration is attempting to broker a “back-door” deal with the country. American allies in the region, such as Israel, have warned against an agreement with Iran, arguing it would give them funds to continue to sponsor terrorism around the globe and especially in the Middle East.
Last week, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told Fox News, “There is no nuclear deal in the offing,” adding that the administration has “made clear to Iran that they should not take steps that would escalate tensions and have been urging Iran to take a de-escalatory path.”
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“We believe diplomacy is the best path for ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, but as we have said, we are preparing for all possible contingencies in full coordination with our partners and allies,” the spokesperson said.