U.S. Navy Prevents Iran from Seizing Two Tankers

The U.S. Navy announced that the Islamic Republic attempted to seize two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz early Wednesday, even firing at one of them. In a statement, the U.S. Navy noted that in both instances, Iranian naval vessels retreated after the U.S. Navy's response, allowing both commercial ships to continue their journeys. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the U.S. Fifth Fleet, commented on the incident, stating that Iran had made attempts to seize commercial tankers that were legally passing through international waters. He mentioned that the U.S. Navy responded immediately and prevented their capture. According to the Associated Press, he stated that the gunfire directed at the second ship did not result in any casualties or significant damage. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) shared a video of the tensions on its Twitter account. No immediate comments from Iran regarding this news have been reported. A maritime intelligence organization named Ambrey stated that the second ship, which was fired upon, was Greek-owned and sailing under the Bahamian flag. This ship, managed by an American company, was transporting oil from the UAE to Singapore. The organization reported that the gunfire occurred 28 nautical miles north of Muscat, the capital of Oman. The U.S. Navy claims that in the past two years, Iran has seized at least five commercial vessels and harassed several others, with most of these actions taking place in the Strait of Hormuz. The Financial Times reported that the U.S. is likely to begin the unloading of a seized Iranian tanker. Verification: Iran's regulations for transit through the Strait of Hormuz conflict with international laws. Jason Braddock stated to Voice of America that the Islamic Republic has historically proven to be an enemy of Saudi Arabia. The UAE and Qatar have reopened their embassies.