Today’s news / Iran detains U.S. oil tanker

Iran detains U.S. oil tanker

The oil tanker “St. Nicolas” was boarded by several people in uniform off northern Oman on Thursday, apparently heading for Iran. The Iranian news agency Tasnim reports that the U.S. oil tanker has been intercepted by Iran on the orders of the country’s judicial authorities. The Iranian navy that has taken control of the ship off Oman, the Iranian navy announced, according to AFP. It was the British Maritime Operations Organisation (UKMTO) and security firm Ambrey who announced earlier on Thursday that the ship had been boarded.
      The oil tanker’s AIS tracking system was disconnected at a time when it was heading for the Iranian port city of Bandar-e-Jask. The ship sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands. The oil tanker has previously been at the centre of a dispute between Iran and the United States.  Last year, the ship was detained by the United States for violating sanctions against Iran. /ritzau/