27 Apr 2023 | 02:44 PM UTC
Gulf of Oman: Iran's forces reportedly seize foreign tanker April 27
Seizure of commercial vessel in Gulf of Oman attributed to Iranian-backed forces April 27; disruptions to maritime operations possible.
Event
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval forces reportedly seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker, Advantage Sweet, in the Persian Gulf, close to the Strait of Hormuz on April 27. Iran has yet to acknowledge the incident. Similarly, the IRGC provided no specific reasons for the vessel's seizure. It remains possible the ship strayed into Iranian territorial waters.
Persian Gulf littoral states and their allies could increase naval and aerial surveillance in the days ahead; however, shipping and maritime transport through the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman are unlikely to be affected at present.
Context
A series of high-profile incidents involving vessels and oil tankers have occurred in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman in recent years. Iran's constant threats of closing the Strait of Hormuz and maritime incidents prompted the US to form the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC) in 2019 to monitor the safe passage of oil in the Persian Gulf. As tensions between Washington and Tehran persist, further similar incidents remain likely
Advice
Exercise caution and reconfirm routes with maritime authorities if transiting or shipping freight through the Persian Gulf in the coming days.
