DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran attempted Wednesday morning to seize two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, firing shots at one of them, the U.S. Navy said.
He said that in both cases, the Iranian navy ships backed off after the US Navy responded to distress signals, and the two commercial vessels continued their journeys.
“The Iranian Navy attempted to seize commercial tankers legally transiting international waters,” said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, spokesman for the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. “The US Navy responded immediately and prevented these seizures.”
He said the shots directed at the second ship caused no casualties or major damage.
The US Navy says Iran has seized at least five commercial ships in the past two years and harassed several others. Many incidents have occurred in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all crude oil passes.
There was no immediate Iranian comment on the latest incidents.
US-Iranian tensions have risen steadily since the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reinstated crippling sanctions. Iran has responded by stepping up its nuclear activities – which it says are purely peaceful – and is also supplying armed drones to Russia for its war against Ukraine.