US forces seize commercial tankers in international waters, Iranians fire on tanker

WASHINGTON: US forces blocked two attempts by the Iranian navy Wednesday to seize commercial tankers in international waters off Oman, including one case in which the Iranians fired on the tanker, the US military said.

The Iranians had sought to seize the Marshall Islands-flagged TRF Moss and three hours later the Bahamian-flagged Richmond Voyager, in both cases fleeing after the US destroyer USS McFaul appeared on the scene, the US Central Command said in a statement.

In April, masked Iranian navy commandos conducted a helicopter-borne raid to seize a U.S.-bound oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, footage of which was aired on Iranian state TV. Iran said the tanker was seized after it collided with another Iranian vessel but provided no evidence. In the past, Iran has seized commercial vessels to use as bargaining chips with the West.

U.S.-Iranian tensions have steadily risen since the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers and restored crippling sanctions. Iran has responded by ramping up its nuclear activities — which it says are purely peaceful — and is also providing armed drones to Russia for its war against Ukraine.

वाशिंगटन: अमेरिकी सेना ने बुधवार को ओमान के पास अंतरराष्ट्रीय जल क्षेत्र में वाणिज्यिक टैंकरों को जब्त करने के ईरानी नौसेना के दो प्रयासों को अवरुद्ध कर दिया, जिसमें एक मामला जिसमें ईरानियों ने टैंकर पर गोलीबारी की थी, अमेरिकी सेना ने कहा।

यूएस सेंट्रल कमांड ने एक बयान में कहा, ईरानियों ने मार्शल आइलैंड्स-ध्वजांकित टीआरएफ मॉस और तीन घंटे बाद बहामियन-ध्वजांकित रिचमंड वोयाजर को जब्त करने की मांग की थी, दोनों ही मामलों में अमेरिकी विध्वंसक यूएसएस मैकफॉल के घटनास्थल पर दिखाई देने के बाद वे भाग गए।