APRIL 27, 2023 – On April 27 at approximately 1:15 p.m. local time, Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Advantage Sweet was seized by the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy while transiting international waters in the Gulf of Oman.
The oil tanker issued a distress call during the seizure. U.S. 5th Fleet is monitoring the situation.
Iran’s actions are contrary to international law and disruptive to regional security and stability. The Iranian government should immediately release the oil tanker.
Iran’s continued harassment of vessels and interference with navigational rights in regional waters are a threat to maritime security and the global economy.
In the past two years, Iran has unlawfully seized at least five commercial vessels sailing in the Middle East.
The US statement identified the ship as the Advantage Sweet Suezmax crude tanker chartered by Chevron to move product from Kuwait to Houston.
The US administration is calling on Iran’s government to immediately release the oil tanker, according to Bloomberg.
Iran especially since 2019, a year after the Trump administration pulled out of the JCPOA nuclear deal brokered under Obama, increased its threats to close the Strait of Hormuz narrow waterway by force – vital to global trade and oil transit – if it’s prevented from using it.
The past few years have witnessed the US ramp up its naval presence in the Gulf region, based out of Bahrain where the 5th Fleet is headquartered, and this has served to increase tense encounters between IRGC operatives and US forces.
From U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs