Oil Tanker Diverts Toward Iranian Waters in Gulf of Oman Incident
International maritime and security agencies reported on Friday that an oil tanker, while transiting the Gulf of Oman, unexpectedly altered its course towards Iranian territorial waters, raising concerns of possible external interference.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency noted in a report that it had been alerted to an incident occurring in the Arabian Sea, approximately 20 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates. The agency described the situation as involving "suspicious" activities and confirmed that an investigation is underway.
According to British maritime security firm Ambrey, a crude oil tanker registered under the Marshall Islands was en route from the UAE to Singapore when it suddenly veered off course towards Iranian waters. The firm suggested that this deviation might indicate a targeted action.
Ambrey further reported that three small boats approached the tanker earlier while it was navigating south through the Strait of Hormuz.
Columbia Ship Management, the company overseeing the vessel, stated that the tanker was carrying high-sulfur diesel fuel and had lost contact while traveling from Sharjah in the UAE to Singapore.
Two maritime sources told Reuters that preliminary assessments suggest the Iranian Revolutionary Guard may have redirected the tanker, named Talara, towards the Iranian coast.
Meanwhile, the British military has cautioned that there may be state involvement in the incident, given the sudden change in the vessel's course while traversing the Strait of Hormuz.
As of now, Iranian authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the incident, although Tehran has previously reported similar occurrences of ships being seized amid rising tensions with Western nations.
