Iran’s navy has seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that was once at the center of a dispute between Iran and the United States, Associated Press reports.
The vessel, previously known as the Suez Rajan, was involved in a yearlong crisis for carrying Iranian oil in violation of sanctions, leading to the US Justice Department seizing 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil from it.
Iran’s state-run TV acknowledged the seizure, accusing the tanker of delivering Iranian oil to the US. The tanker, now identified as the St. Nikolas, was reportedly boarded by armed individuals in black military-style uniforms.
The vessel’s last known location was off the coast of Basra, Iraq, loading crude oil bound for Turkey. The Greek shipping company Empire Navigation, associated with the tanker, stated they lost contact with the vessel. The UK military reported the seizure in the waters between Oman and Iran.
