The US 5th Fleet released a video of their forces preventing Iran from capturing a Greek-owned tanker in the Persian Gulf. As the Central Command of the 5th fleet informs, the Iranians opened fire in one of the incidents near the coast of Oman, with both attacks taking place in international waters.
Watch the video:
On July 5, U.S. forces prevented two attempted commercial tanker seizures by the Iranian Navy after the Iranians had opened fire in one of the incidents near the coast of Oman. Both of these incidents occurred in international waters. Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/HJNTzKtsXv pic.twitter.com/rvzDcATCQq
— U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet (@US5thFleet) July 5, 2023
The Iranian vessel left the scene when the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul (DDG 74) arrived at the scene. In addition, the US Navy developed surveillance assets, including the MQ-9 Reaper and P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
About three hours later, the US Navy received a distress call from the Bahamas-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager while the ship was more than 20 miles off the coast of Muscat, Oman, and transiting international waters.
The Richmond Voyager, owned by the company Maran Tankers, (owned by Maria Angelicoussis) but chartered by Chevron, was harassed at 06:00 in the morning by an Iranian corvette under the pretext of an accident.
It was allegedly asked to stop without it responding resulting in the Iranians firing shots. A US cruiser arrived at the spot following the captain's call.
Another Iranian warship had come within a mile of the Richmond Voyager and called for the merchant tanker to stop.
Oil company Chevron said one incident involved the Richmond Voyager, a very large Greek-owned crude oil tanker it manages, adding that the crew on board was safe.
The Richmond Voyager suffered no losses or significant damage. However, several bullets hit the ship's hull near the crew's living quarters. The Iranian navy ship departed when McFaul arrived.
The ship, which was heading from the United Arab Emirates to Singapore, increased speed and changed course when it became aware of the Iranians' movements, maritime security company Ambrey said, citing its own investigation into the incident.
According to Reuters, a second incident followed 28 nautical miles northeast of Muscat, the capital of Oman, with an Iranian navy ship firing at another tanker in an attempt to seize it, a spokesman for the US Navy's fifth fleet said, Timothy Hawkins.
Both incidents took place in the Gulf of Oman, in the waters between Iran and Oman.
Hawkins added that the fire on the second vessel (its identity has not been released) did not cause casualties or major damage, the Iranian ships retreated after the US Navy arrived and both tankers continued on their journeys.
For its part, Iran has not yet made any comment on the specific incidents.
Since 2021, Iran has harassed, attacked or seized nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant ships, posing a clear threat to regional maritime security and the global economy.
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