The Iranian forces have “forcibly seized” business ship in worldwide waters in Gulf, the US Navy stated on Thursday.
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forcibly seized a business vessel probably engaged in smuggling exercise,” the Bahrain-based US Navy’s Fifth Fleet stated in a press release
The US naval forces deployed maritime property to intently monitor the scenario, the US fifth Fleet spokesperson Commander Tim Hawkins stated, including that the scenario didn’t warrant additional response.
The assertion didn’t determine the business ship.
“US forces stay vigilant and able to defend navigational rights of lawful maritime visitors within the Center East’s crucial waters,” it stated.
In recent times, Washington and Tehran have traded accusations over a sequence of incidents within the tense Gulf waterways which are important to the worldwide oil commerce.
A day earlier, the US Navy stated it had prevented Iran from seizing two business tankers within the Gulf of Oman.
“On July 5, US forces prevented two tried business tanker seizures by the Iranian Navy after the Iranians had opened hearth in one of many incidents close to the coast of Oman,” the US Navy stated in a press release.
“The Iranian vessel departed the scene when US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) arrived on station. Moreover, the US Navy deployed surveillance property, together with MQ-9 Reaper and P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol plane,” it added.
Roughly three hours later, the US Navy stated it acquired a misery name from Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager whereas the ship was greater than 20 miles off the coast of Muscat, Oman, and transiting worldwide waters towards the Arabian Sea.
One other Iranian naval vessel had closed inside one mile of Richmond Voyager whereas hailing the business tanker to cease, the assertion added.
McFaul directed course towards Richmond Voyager at most pace because the service provider tanker continued its transit. “Previous to McFaul’s arrival on scene, Iranian personnel fired a number of, lengthy bursts from each small arms and crew-served weapons. Richmond Voyager sustained no casualties or important injury. Nevertheless, a number of rounds hit the ship’s hull close to crew residing areas. The Iranian navy vessel departed when McFaul arrived.”