A tanker docked off the coast of the United Arab Emirates was seized by “unauthorised personnel” and was spotted heading toward Iranian waters on Thursday while another vessel was attacked and sunk near Oman, further inflaming tension in the Strait of Hormuz.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations noted Thursday that the first ship, which has not been identified, was seized just 38 nautical miles north of the city of Fujairah in the UAE. The organization did not identify any suspects but confirmed it was investigating the incident.
Meanwhile, Indian authorities confirmed that one of their cargo ships sank off the coast of Oman after an attack sparked a fire aboard the vessel.
“The attack on an Indian-flagged ship off the coast of Oman yesterday is unacceptable and we deplore the fact that commercial shipping and civilian mariners continue to be targeted,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs wrote in a statement.
The ministry reported no injuries among the crew members and said they were rescued by Omani authorities.
While Iran has not claimed responsibility for the attack or the seizure, Iranian lawmakers have asserted they have the right under international and domestic law to intercept “violating” ships in the surrounding waters.
“The seizure of violating American oil tankers is an action grounded in domestic and international laws,” Asghar Jahangir, a spokesman for Iran’s judiciary, said Thursday. “The detention of these violating tankers is based on firm and final rulings issued by competent Iranian courts after legal procedures have been completed.”
Additionally, Iranian lawmakers have moved to legalize Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz. On Wednesday, Iran’s National Security Foreign Policy Committee announced that a law that would create a framework for Iran’s continual control over the waterway was “uploaded to parliament’s system for review and approval.”
International leaders have rejected Iran’s claims that it has sovereignty over the strait and have insisted that any peace deal between the U.S. and Iran allow for the free movement of commerce.
Iran has kept the Hormuz effectively closed for nearly three months, putting dramatic strain on global energy supplies. At least 20% of the world’s oil travels through the strait each year, and countries that rely on exports from Middle Eastern countries have had to dip into reserves or find alternative sources.
The U.S. has instituted a counterblockade of Iranian ports in response, which is intended to put extra pressure on Iran’s economy. U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, reported Thursday that naval forces have turned away 70 ships since the blockade began in April.
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