Dubai(AE-DU): The Iranian navy boarded & briefly captured a Liberian-flagged oil tanker nearby strategic Strait of Hormuz amidst heightened tensions between Tehran & the United States, a US military officer said on Thu..
The US military’s Central Command posted a black-and-white video footage demonstrating what surfaced to be special enforces fast-roping down from a helicopter onto the MV Wila, whose last position surfaced to be off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates nearby city of Khorfakkan.
The Iranian navy conducted the vessel for some of the 5 hours before releasing it Wed., stated a US military officer who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to debate information not yet made people. The Wila made no distress calls before, throughout & after the seizure, the officer said.
The Iranian helicopter engaged surfaced to be a Sikorsky SH-Three Sea King, that only Iran’s navy operates.
The Iranian navy also handles all activities within the Gulf of Oman on the eastern side of the Strait of Hormuz, using that 20 percent of all oil traded passes.
The US military authorities didn’t offer any reason for Iran seizing the vessel. Iranian state media & authorities didn’t immediately acknowledge the seizure (or) offer a reason for it.
Authorities within the UAE, a US-allied federation of 7 sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, didn’t respond to a appeal for comment.
As tensions between Iran & the US heated previous year over America’s unilateral withdraw from its 2015 nuclear deal, tankers plying the waters of the Mideast had become attacks, particularly nearby strait, the Persian Gulf’s narrow mouth. Suspected limpet mine targets the US blamed on Iran targetted multiple tankers. Iran refused being engaged, although it did seize multiple tankers.
In Jul, a US-sought oil tanker has been hijacked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates after reportedly smuggling Iranian crude oil. The vessel thereafter stopped up back in Iranian waters, suggesting Iran itself captured the vessel.