An oil tanker was seized by armed individuals in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, according to United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations, as attacks on commercial shipping in the broader Middle Eastern region continue.
The UKMTO, which provides updates and warnings to vessels navigating strategic Middle Eastern waterways, reported a “vessel being boarded by 4-5 armed unauthorized persons” some 50 nautical miles off the coast of the Omani city of Sohar.
“Unauthorized boarders are reported to be wearing military style black uniforms with black masks,” the UKMTO update read. “Authorities are investigating.”
The vessel is the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker St Nikolas, which is owned by Greek firm Empire Navigation and has previously been caught up in United States enforcement of oil export sanctions against Iran, Reuters reported.
The vessel’s AIS tracking system was turned off as it turned in the direction of the Iranian port of Bandar-e-Jask, according to Reuters. The UKMTO said the St Nikolas “has altered course towards Iranian territorial waters.”
Ian Forsyth/Getty Images
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.