The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker heading to the United States in the Gulf of Oman, the U.S. Navy announced. This is interpreted as Iran expressing its dissatisfaction with the U.S. amid prolonged sanctions following the collapse of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA).
According to CNN on the 27th (local time), the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, responsible for the Middle East region, stated, "At approximately 1:15 PM today, the oil tanker 'Advantage Sweet,' flying the Marshall Islands flag, was seized by the IRGC," adding, "The tanker sent a distress signal during the seizure. This act by Iran violates international law and undermines regional security and stability," strongly criticizing the action.
They continued, "Iran has seized commercial vessels more than five times in the past two years," urging, "The Iranian government must immediately release the tanker." The Advantage Sweet was reportedly seized by the IRGC while en route from Kuwait to Houston, USA. The Iranian government has not yet issued a statement regarding the seizure.
The location of the IRGC's seizure of the vessel, as disclosed by the U.S. Navy, is in international waters of the Gulf of Oman, connected to the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz, only 40 km wide, is a passage for about 20% of the world's maritime oil transport and is a frequent site of military friction between U.S. warships and Revolutionary Guard vessels.
Recently, Iran claimed that a U.S. military submarine violated its territorial waters in this area, a claim denied by the U.S., escalating tensions between the two sides. Since the effective collapse of the JCPOA in February this year due to failed negotiations between the two countries, relations between the U.S. and Iran have significantly deteriorated.
As the Iranian government continues to seize vessels in its maritime territory, concerns over the safety of oil tankers are growing. Previously, the IRGC seized two Greek oil tankers in May last year but released them after six months. Earlier, in January 2021, the IRGC seized the Korean chemical tanker Korean Chemie and 20 crew members, including five Koreans, on charges of marine pollution in the Strait of Hormuz; 19 crew members were released after about a month, and the ship and captain were released after 95 days.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
