Iranian Naval Forces Capture Oil Tanker at Center of US-Iran Controversy in Gulf of Oman

Iran’s naval forces recently seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, escalating tensions in the region’s critical waterways. This tanker, previously known as the Suez Rajan, had been central to a major conflict between Tehran and Washington, involving the U.S. Justice Department seizing 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil from it.

This incident adds to the growing concerns in the area, following weeks of attacks on Red Sea shipping by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran. The Houthis’ largest assault to date, involving drones and missiles, heightened the risk of countermeasures by the U.S.-led forces currently patrolling these essential waterways. This situation was further compounded by a United Nations Security Council vote condemning the Houthis and warnings from American and British officials regarding potential repercussions.

The Iranian state media confirmed the seizure later that day, after armed individuals boarded the vessel. The operation was conducted by the Iranian navy, contrasting with previous sea incidents typically involving Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the seizure began in the morning in the waters between Oman and Iran, near the Strait of Hormuz – a narrow passage crucial for global oil trade.

The private security firm Ambrey identified the seized tanker as the St. Nikolas, formerly the Suez Rajan. The vessel was loading crude oil in Basra, Iraq, for delivery to Turkey, when it was diverted to Iran’s Bandar-e Jask port.

Athens-based Empire Navigation, the shipping company associated with the tanker, acknowledged losing contact with the vessel, crewed by 18 Filipinos and one Greek national.

The Suez Rajan had previously been under scrutiny for allegedly transporting Iranian oil from Khargh Island. After a period in the South China Sea, the ship headed to the Texas coast, where its cargo was transferred and released under a U.S. Justice Department order. Empire Navigation later pleaded guilty to smuggling Iranian crude oil and agreed to a $2.4 million fine.

Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz, including seizing tankers and targeting U.S. oil company Chevron Corp.’s cargo, have heightened tensions. These incidents, along with assaults on shipping and tense naval encounters, have been prevalent since the collapse of Iran’s nuclear deal.

The U.S. and its allies have been seizing Iranian oil cargoes since 2019, leading to retaliatory attacks and seizures by Iran, threatening global shipping. The Houthis, justifying their attacks as a response to Palestinian suffering in Gaza, have increasingly targeted vessels with little or no connection to Israel.

In a related development, satellite data revealed that the Iranian cargo vessel Behshad, suspected of being a spy platform, left the Red Sea, transiting through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into the Gulf of Aden. This vessel had been stationed off Eritrea since 2021, replacing another suspected Iranian spy base, the Saviz, which was damaged in an attack attributed to Israel.