Iran is currently in a standstill with the US and other major countries due to the uncertain future of its nuclear deal. According to the coverage of foreign media, an oil tanker has been hijacked by Iran in the Gulf of Oman, and the status of at least 4 cruise ships is still unclear. Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported on August 3rd that a “potential hijack” is happening in the particular sea area.
According to Reuters, the Panamanian oil tanker Asphalt Princess was hijacked at the Arabian Sea leading to the Strait of Hormuz, which primarily connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and is also the only waterway to the Persian Gulf that carries approximately 1/5 of global seaborne oil exports.
Regarding this accusation, Abolfazl Shekarchi, the spokesperson of the Iranian military, believes that the rumor surrounding a hijacking at the Gulf area is a psychological warfare, and denied the allegation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran asserted that the coverage regarding these maritime incidents are exceedingly suspicious, and warned against any attempt at fabricating a “false atmosphere” towards Tehran.
Ned Price, the spokesperson of the US Department of State, commented that the US is well aware of the coverage on the hijacking at the Gulf of Oman, and is currently in the middle of investigation, though he believes it is still too early to draw up a conclusion. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is also implementing an urgent investigation on this incident.
Other US officials believe that the status is developing rapidly, though Iranian militants seemed to have already boarded the detained oil tanker.
The situation has yet to generate fluctuations in oil prices, but analysts believe that an aggravation may possibly stimulate global oil prices.
Intensity at Gulf of Oman Elevates as Israeli-Managed Ships Sustain Attacks
The exacerbation of the intensity at the Gulf of Oman started from a maritime attack that took place last week.
The Liberian-flagged oil tanker Mercer Street managed by an Israeli company sailed off the Gulf of Oman without carrying any crude oil or petroleum products on July 29th, and was attacked by a drone with explosives shortly after, which resulted in the deaths of a UK national and a Romanian national. The UK, US, and Israel are all accusing Iran of being the culprit behind the attack, and Iran has denied all accusations.
The tense atmosphere in the area has been incessant afterwards.
Apart from the hijacked Asphalt Princess, the conditions of 4 other cruise ships also remain unclear on August 3rd. According to the vessel tracking data of Refinitiv, at least 5 ships sailing in the sea area between UAE and Iran had switched their AIS to “not under command” on the 3rd, which indicates that a ship is unable to maneuver due to special circumstances.
The Associated Press also reported that there were at least 4 ships that broadcasted a warning on the 3rd pertaining to a loss of steering control. As reported, these 4 ships are Queen Ematha, the Golden Brilliant, Jag Poofa, and Abyss.
Possible Connection with Shadow War between Iran and Israel
Although the Iranian government has denied this attack, BBC has quoted security analysts who claim that the attack has something to do with the shadow war between Iran and Israel.
Maritime attacks have started to occur at the Gulf area one year after former US President Donald Trump announced the unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and resumed the sanction on Iran from 2018, which elevated the tense status between Iran, Israel, and this particular sea area.
The so-called shadow war is just mutually implicated attacks between Iran and Israel at the Gulf area that have been denied by both countries. However, there had been no casualties from these maritime attacks prior to the attack on Mercer Street.
(Cover photo source: Reuters)