The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the nearby Red Sea.
LONDON – State media reported that the Iranian Navy seized an oil tanker in the waters between Iran and Oman on Thursday.
The state-run Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency published a brief story confirming the navy's seizure of the ship but did not identify the ship.
Earlier on Thursday, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report of several armed men boarding a ship in the Gulf of Oman.
Four to five “unauthorized” individuals who were “armed” and “wearing black military uniforms and black masks” reportedly boarded the ship early Thursday in an area about 50 nautical miles east of Sohar, a port city on the coast. Northern Oman, according to reports. A notice from the UKMTO, which is part of the British Royal Navy and provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East.
The UKMTO said the ship “changed course towards Iranian territorial waters and lost communications with them.”
“The authorities are investigating the matter,” the UKMTO added. “We advise vessels to transit with caution and to report any suspicious activity to the UKMTO.”
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the nearby Red Sea, where Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group has been attacking international ships for weeks.
This is a developing story. . Please check back for updates
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