DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Tracking data shows an oil tanker based in the United Arab Emirates traveling through the Strait of Hormuz drifted off into Iranian waters and stopped transmitting its location over two days ago, raising concerns today about its status amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S.
It wasnt clear what happened to the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Riah late Saturday night, though a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press that America has suspicions Iran seized the vessel. There was no immediate comment from Tehran.
However, its last position showed it pointing toward Iran. Oil tankers have previously been targeted as the Persian Gulf region took center stage in a crisis over Irans unraveling nuclear deal with world powers.
The concern about the Riah comes as Iran continues its own high-pressure campaign over its nuclear program after President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord over a year ago.
Recently, Iran has inched its uranium production and enrichment over the limits of its 2015 nuclear deal, trying to put more pressure on Europe to offer it better terms and allow it to sell its crude oil abroad.
However, those tensions also have seen the U.S. send thousands of additional troops, nuclear-capable B-52 bombers and advanced fighter jets into the Mideast. Mysterious attacks on oil tankers and Iran shooting down a U.S. military surveillance drone has added to the fears of an armed conflict breaking out.
The Riah, a 58-meter (190-foot) oil tanker, typically made trips from Dubai and Sharjah on the UAEs west coast before going through the strait and heading to Fujairah on the UAEs east coast. However, something happened to the vessel after 11 p.m. on Saturday, according to tracking data.
Capt. Ranjith Raja of the data firm Refinitiv told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the tanker hadnt switched off its tracking in three months of trips around the UAE.
That is a red flag, Raja said.
Iranian officials have not said anything publicly about the ship, nor have officials in the UAE. The U.S. Navys 5th Fleet, which oversees Mideast waters, declined to immediately comment.
A U.S. defense official later told the AP that Riah is in Iranian territorial waters near Qeshm Island, which has a Revolutionary Guard base on it. He said the U.S. has suspicions Iran seized the vessel.
Could it have broken down or been towed for assistance? Thats a possibility, the official said. But the longer there is a period of no contact … its going to be a concern.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter did not directly involve U.S. interests.
The ships registered owner, Dubai-based Prime Tankers LLC, told the AP it had sold the ship to another company called Mouj Al-Bahar. A man who answered a telephone number registered to the firm told the AP it didnt own any ships.
Separately, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday his country will retaliate over the seizure of an Iranian supertanker carrying 2.1 million barrels of light crude oil. The vessel was seized with the help of British Royal Marines earlier this month off Gibraltar.
