Iran’s navy on Thursday boarded and seized a Greek-operated oil tanker, the St. Nikolas, off the coast of Oman.
The high seas seizure heightens tensions with the West, not far from where Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been attacking merchant ships and facing off with American and British naval vessels in the Red Sea.
The tanker was transiting through the Strait of Hormuz en route to Turkey when the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported hearing “unknown voices” on board. Iranian news agency IRNA later confirmed its navy had seized the ship.
The St. Nikolas, operated by Greek shipping venture Empire Navigation, was previously known as the Suez Rajan. It was at the center of a dispute between Washington and Tehran in April last year after U.S. authorities seized the ship, loaded with 1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil.
The oil was ultimately ordered to be discharged in Houston by the U.S. Department of Justice. The Greek company pleaded guilty to smuggling sanctioned Iranian oil in September and paid a $2.4 million fine. The oil was sold at auction and profits were earmarked as compensation for American victims of terrorism.
Empire Navigation confirmed to AP that a crew of 18 Filipinos and the Greek captain are on board the vessel which is now in Iranian hands.
Speaking to POLITICO, Mark Wallace, former American ambassador to the U.N. and CEO of the United Against Nuclear Iran pressure group, said he was “extremely” concerned about the welfare of the crew and criticized the failure of Washington to respond to the seizure, despite the ship being under the protection of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Following the ship being boarded, he said, “we had about five hours until it got into Iranian territorial waters and the U.S. took no action … it looks like the U.S. and its allies have lost control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Strait of Hormuz.”
Tehran’s move elevates the risk of wider conflict erupting in the region, where a U.S.-led coalition is currently patrolling the Red Sea to safeguard commercial ships from Houthi attacks.
On December 31, the U.S. navy engaged the Shia militant group and destroyed three boats that were harassing a Maersk ship. Just days later, Iran dispatched a warship to the Red Sea to back the Houthis.
On Tuesday, British and American navy forces thwarted the largest Houthi attack yet on vessels in the Red Sea. A total of 21 drones and various types of ballistic missiles were downed. No damage to ships was reported.
“Watch this space,” warned U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps after the military action, vowing to step up retaliation against Houthi militants if they didn’t back down.
This story has been updated.