Iran Navy seizes oil tanker in Gulf of Oman

According to Iran’s state-run news agency, IRNA, four to five “unauthorised” individuals who were “armed” and “wearing military style black uniforms with black masks” reportedly boarded the vessel early Thursday in an area some 50 nautical miles east of Sohar, a port city on Oman’s northern coast.

Earlier Thursday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, or UKMTO, said it had received a report of several gunmen boarding a ship in the Gulf of Oman.

The UKMTO said that the ship had reportedly “altered course towards Iranian territorial waters and communications with the vessel have been lost.”

“Authorities are investigating,” the UKMTO added. “Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.”

READ: US says it disrupted illicit oil shipment by Iran’s IRGC, seized contraband crude