IRGC Seizes Oil Tanker in Persian Gulf

The U.S. Central Command, 'CENTCOM', announced the seizure of a Panama-flagged oil tanker in the Persian Gulf. According to the statement, the oil tanker 'Newvy' was seized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy around 6:20 AM local time on Wednesday, April 13, while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The statement, citing the U.S. Navy, added that this is the second time in recent days that the Islamic Republic has seized an oil tanker. 'CENTCOM' stated that IRGC fast boats forced the tanker to change course and head towards Iranian coastal waters near Bandar Abbas. This is the second seizure of an oil tanker by the military forces of the Islamic Republic in the past week. On Thursday, April 7, the U.S. Fifth Fleet had also announced that the Iranian Navy had seized a tanker flying the Marshall Islands flag in international waters of the Sea of Oman that afternoon. The Fifth Fleet described that action as contrary to international law and a disruptor of regional security and stability. According to the statement, Iran's harassing actions against vessels and violations of navigation rights in international waters pose a threat to maritime security and the global economy. The statement noted that the Islamic Republic has seized at least five commercial vessels in the Middle East region over the past two years. Maritime tensions between Iran and the U.S. have escalated in recent weeks. The Fifth Fleet had also denied Iran's claim about forcing a U.S. submarine to surface while passing through the Strait of Hormuz in late April. On April 9, Reuters reported, citing a British maritime security company and three informed sources, that the U.S. had seized an Iranian oil shipment in the recent phase of intensified sanctions. Two days prior, on April 7, a group of 12 Republican and Democratic senators had sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to authorize the seizure of Iranian confiscated oil and gas shipments.