The U.S. Navy stated today that Iran has detained a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman while it was sailing in international waters. The U.S. Fifth Fleet tweeted, "The oil tanker issued a distress call during its detention." They called for its immediate release, emphasizing they are monitoring the situation.
The U.S. Navy added, "The seizure of the tanker Advantage Sweet by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's naval force undermines regional security and stability." They noted that "Iran's ongoing harassment of ships and interference with navigational rights in territorial waters threatens maritime security and the global economy," adding that Iran has unlawfully seized at least five commercial ships in the Middle East over the past two years.
According to the International Maritime Organization's shipping database, the Advantage Sweet is owned by a company registered in China. For its part, the Iranian military announced the detention of the oil tanker in Gulf waters after it collided with an Iranian boat, resulting in injuries to several crew members and an attempted escape. The Iranian army's statement reported, "Two of the boat's crew went missing, and others were injured as a result of the tanker colliding with the boat."
