An oil tanker was boarded by armed individuals near the Gulf of Oman on Thursday and appeared to change course toward Iranian waters, according to the U.K. Marine Trade Operations.
The UKMTO reported on social media that an unnamed ship was boarded by four or five unauthorized people early Thursday at 50 nautical miles east of Sohar, Oman.
“Unauthorised boarders are reported to be wearing military style black uniforms with black masks,” the UKMTO said, adding that the vessel “has altered course towards Iranian territorial waters and communications with the vessel have been lost.”
Time for Operation Praying Mantis 2?
There has been plenty of fucking around. We are well past when the finding out phase needs to start.
Edit: The finding out is nigh.
This is how wars start.
Privateering is casus belli.
You mean the operation that targeted Iranian offshore platforms? That illegal use of retaliation?
The ICJ also rejected, by 15 votes to one, the U.S. counterclaim seeking a finding of Iran’s liability for interfering with the freedoms of commerce and navigation in the Gulf by attacking ships through missiles and mines.
The Court concluded, however, that the US had not submitted convincing evidence that the missile attack on the Sea Isle City in 1987 could be attributed to Iran. In view of all the circumstances and the evidence submitted by the US, the Court found that… the mining of the USS Samuel B. Roberts was insufficient in itself to amount to an “armed attack” on the US…[and] that the evidence of Iran’s responsibility for mining the USS Samuel B. Roberts was inconclusive.
If the US had destroyed an offshore rig/Iranian vessel that was actively firing on neutral/US flagged shipping, that would be justified. Thwacking offshore installations because “they shady af, trust me bro” is not a legitimate use of force
Iran hijacks Iranian ship seized by US.
Hm.
No. Iran hijacked a Greek owned ship. Carrying oil from Iraq to Turkey.
Iran doesn’t own the ship or the oil on it.
Iran has seized a tanker with Iraqi crude destined for Turkey in retaliation for the confiscation last year of the same vessel and its oil by the United States
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/11/iran-navy-says-seized-oil-tanker-off-oman-state-media-2
Iran seized a Greek ship carrying oil from Iraq to Turkey. Because they’re butthurt about attempting to use the same ship last year to evade sanctions.
No matter how you frame this it’s an illegal act. And no, evading international sanctions due to funding terrorists is not justifiable. Iran could just chill the fuck out with being a shitty neighbor and the sanctions would go away.
The US is literally attempting to evade sanctions right now by bombing the crap out of Yemen.
