According to the United States Navy, Iranian soldiers took control of a foreign vessel on Wednesday. That makes this the second ship harassed and seized by the Middle Eastern nation in the past week. This is an insult and disgrace!
No Fear
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) overtook a commercial oil tanker wearing the flag of Panama when it was traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, which is located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
The Niovi was flying the flag of Panama at the time.
A Panamanian-flagged oil tanker was seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) while transiting the Strait of Hormuz this morning.
This is the second oil tanker they have seized this week in international waters.
We used to be a deterrent. Our Navy is… pic.twitter.com/tq3etYhWwA
— Tommy Liberty (@RucksackRadio) May 3, 2023
About a dozen armed men of the IRGCN boarded the fast-attack craft and aggressively surrounded the Niovi. After that, the IRGCN ordered the crew to make a U-turn and head back into the Iranian territorial seas.
When it was taken, the Panama oil tanker was going from Dubai to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
A bird’s eye view of the Iranian operation was captured on video footage and later declassified and made public by the United States Navy.
Advantage Sweet
This is unprecedented and must not be taken lightly. To add salt to injury, this isn’t even the first instance of capture recently. In less than a week, Iran has illegally seized two foreign vessels.
The oil tanker Advantage Sweet, which was flying the Marshall Islands flag and on its way to Houston (America!), was captured by Iranian forces last week, according to an announcement made by the United States Navy on Sunday.
It’s almost like they are daring the world.
Seizure of M.V Advantage Sweet by the IRGCN this afternoon.
Stated vessel destination was Houston, Texas.
US Navy 5th fleet has issued a note of protest. pic.twitter.com/o9YaSFKVmz
— Pelusium OSINT 🇮🇷 (@PelusiumCap) April 27, 2023
Iranian military personnel were seen on video approaching the oil tanker with a helicopter while traveling through the Gulf of Oman.
Luckily, as it was being seized, the oil tanker reportedly transmitted a distress signal to the United States Navy’s 5th Fleet.
Iran is actively doing what is illegal under international law; that threatens the peace and security of the area without any sign of remorse or fear of retaliation.
The incident occurred during heightened tensions about Iran’s nuclear projects. It highlights the danger to the world if any nuclear deal goes through.
This article appeared in NewsHouse and has been published here with permission.
