U.S. Central Command Reports Iranian Seizure of Oil Tanker in International Waters

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced today that it detected an assault operation by Iranian forces on the oil tanker "Talara," which was flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, as it navigated through international waters in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.

According to the statement, members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard reached the vessel via military helicopter, boarded it forcefully, and subsequently redirected it to Iranian territorial waters, where it remains detained.

CENTCOM characterized the use of military force to seize a commercial vessel in international waters as a blatant violation of international law, undermining freedom of navigation and global trade.

The command also urged Iran to clarify the legal basis for its actions to the international community, asserting that U.S. forces will continue to closely monitor the situation.

This incident occurs amid rising maritime tensions between Washington and Tehran, particularly following repeated Iranian warnings of potential responses to recent military confrontations with Israel.