The Islamic Republic of Iran has taken control of a second oil tanker in the Persian Gulf.
The U.S. Navy confirmed early Wednesday that a flotilla of fast-attack craft intercepted the Panamanian tanker Niovi as it navigated the Strait of Hormuz, forcing the 360-yard-long ship to reverse course and head to Iran.
The development comes six days after Iranian forces seized Advantage Sweet, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker bound for Texas.
Further, it coincides with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus to strengthen their alliance and project Iranian influence in the broader Middle East.
President Raisi's trip to Damascus comes less than a month after a Chinese-brokered agreement restored ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The Wall Street Journal has more on Wednesday's developments:
“Iran's continued harassment of vessels and interference with navigational rights in regional waters are unwarranted, irresponsible and a present threat to maritime security and the global economy,” said the U.S. Navy, which released video footage of the seizure.
Tehran's prosecutor Ali Salehi said the Niovi had been impounded as the result of a complaint and warrant issued by the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, according to the state-affiliated Young Journalists Club news agency. The news agency didn't offer any details on what led to the decision to seize the ship.
The latest seizure comes amid a new uptick in regional tensions between Washington and Tehran. Last month, the U.S. military announced its decision to send a guided-missile submarine into the region in a public show of force meant to deter Iran from attacking commercial ships.
Iran has steadily built an “axis of resistance,” comprised of allied nations, political parties and non-state actors across the Mideast to counter the superior conventional forces of Israel and the United States, as the Journal noted:
Mr. Raisi met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for political and economic discussions, according to his office. The visit is likely to also have a military purpose, analysts said.
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Not to worry, joe and his ilk will come up with a plan, just not sure when. IMO
I’ll stop worrying in 2024 or 2025 when Biden leaves the WH.
Send tankers in with escorts OR arm IE sonic disrupters, smoke grenades, armed crew
NO! Send warships & nuclear subs to send a message that no one touches free trade ships in those waters that are open to the world. This is no time to play games – stop China & Iran in their tracks!
why not send in a decoy ship with a total military crew and heavy guns hidden on it. Blow the bastards away. They’ll think twice if thats done a time or two.
That’s what was done when the ships were being boarded and taken off the coast of Africa. It stopped them & didn’t take too long. And they did blow up some of the ships they saw loaded with crews that would be boarding the other ships. That’s all those type of people understand – fight fire with fire !
How stupid to threaten – get the warships out there and trash the transgender mumblings along with Biden’s yack. We need someone that know how to be in charge to protect the free waters from China and Iran.
How is this different from the pirates of Somalia?