In a recent development, the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran has reported the seizure of an American oil tanker in the Sea of Oman, citing a court order. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) identified the vessel as the Marshall Islands-flagged St Nikolas, disclosing that it was boarded around 7:30 am (0330 GMT) off Sohar in Oman and subsequently altered its course towards Bandar-e-Jask in Iran.
According to information from Ambrey, a British maritime risk company, the tanker, formerly known by another name, had previously faced legal action and fines for transporting Iranian oil, an incident where the cargo was confiscated by US authorities. Ambrey noted that Iran has a history of taking action against entities it accuses of collaborating with the United States.
The seized vessel had been loaded with 145,000 tonnes of crude oil in Basra, Iraq, with a planned destination of Aliaga in Turkey via the Suez Canal, as indicated by the Greece-based management company Empire Navigation overseeing the tanker. This latest incident adds to the growing tensions in the region, highlighting the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the maritime domain.
