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According to three sources, the
US has recently taken possession of Iranian oil on a tanker in a move to
enforce sanctions. In response, a maritime security firm reported that Iran
seized another oil-laden tanker as retaliation.
The recent seizure of oil cargos
has added to the already tense situation between the US and Iran. The US has
been imposing sanctions on Iran for years due to the latter's nuclear program,
which Iran does not recognize. Despite the sanctions, Iran's oil exports have
been increasing, with Tehran stating that their nuclear program is for peaceful
purposes, while Washington suspects that Iran intends to create nuclear
weapons.
Maritime security company,
Ambrey, reported that the US confiscated the oil cargo from the Marshall
Islands tanker Suez Rajan at least five days before Iran's retaliation on
Thursday. Ambrey also stated that both tankers were of similar size and that
Iran has responded in this manner before following the seizure of their oil
cargo.
According to sources who preferred
to remain anonymous, Washington gained control of the oil cargo after obtaining
a court order. The tanker's last known position was in southern Africa on April
22, and the vessel's manager, Empire Navigation, and the US Department of
Justice did not respond to requests for comment.
In response to the US's actions,
Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday.
Iranian state TV reported that the tanker ignored calls to stop following a
collision with an Iranian boat, which led to several crew members being injured
and three missing. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reaffirmed support
for international maritime law in response to the Gulf of Oman seizure.
The US attempted to seize a cargo
of Iranian oil near Greece last year, prompting Iran to seize two Greek tankers
in the Gulf. The Greek Supreme Court eventually ordered the return of the cargo
to Iran, and the two Greek tankers were subsequently released.
In a move that could further
escalate tensions, 12 US senators recently called on President Joe Biden to
remove policy hurdles that prevent the Department of Homeland Security from
seizing Iranian oil shipments. In 2020, Washington confiscated four cargoes of
Iranian fuel bound for Venezuela aboard foreign ships and transferred them with
foreign partners' assistance to two other ships bound for the US.
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