U.S. Central Command Reports Iranian Forces Seize Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Sunday that Iranian forces forcibly seized the oil tanker 'Talara,' which is registered under the Marshall Islands flag, while it was navigating through international waters in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.

According to CENTCOM, members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard accessed the vessel via military helicopter, boarded it by force, and subsequently transported it to Iranian territorial waters, where it remains detained.

The U.S. military characterized this use of force against a commercial vessel in international waters as a clear violation of international law, jeopardizing freedom of navigation and the uninterrupted flow of global trade.

CENTCOM urged Iran to provide a legal justification for its actions to the international community and reaffirmed that U.S. forces will continue to closely monitor the situation.

This incident occurs amid escalating maritime tensions between the United States and Iran, particularly following Iranian threats regarding potential responses to recent military engagements involving Israel.