Iran Blocked From Seizing Tankers Near Oman, US Navy Says

Storyful
1 年前

The US Navy said it thwarted the seizure of two commercial tankers by Iranian forces in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday, July 5.

US officials said the first incident occurred when an Iranian naval vessel came near a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker named the TRF Moss. The Iranian vessel retreated when “a US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) arrived on station,” the Navy said in a press release.

The USS McFaul responded to a distress call around three hours later from a different oil tanker off the coast of Oman. An Iranian vessel had approached the Bahamian-flagged Richmond Voyager and “fired multiple, long bursts from both small arms and crew-served weapons,” the Navy said. Officials said the Iranian navy vessel drew back upon the McFaul’s arrival. The Richmond Voyager avoided significant damage and no crew members on board were killed, the Navy said.

Footage released by the Navy shows the Iranian naval vessel firing at the Richmond Voyager.

“Since 2021, Iran has harassed, attacked or seized nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant vessels, presenting a clear threat to regional maritime security and the global economy,” the Navy said. Credit: US Navy via Storyful