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The US 5th Fleet released a video from the moment the US Navy prevented the capture of a Greek-owned tanker by Iranians in the Persian Gulf.
As the Central Command of the Naval Forces 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 released by the US 5th Fleet:
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 deployed surveillance assets, including the MQ-9 Reaper and P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance 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.
Maritime security firm Ambrey said the vessel was a Bahamas-flagged oil tanker owned by Greece and operated by the US.
Another Iranian warship had come within a mile of the Richmond Voyager while calling for the merchant tanker to stop.
Oil company Chevron said one incident involved the Richmond Voyager, a very large Greek-owned crude carrier it manages, adding that the crew on board was safe.
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The Richmond Voyager suffered no losses or significant damage.
However, several bullets struck 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 sensed the Iranians’ movements, maritime security firm Ambrey said, citing its own investigation into the incident.
According to Reuters, there was a second incident 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.
Both incidents took place in the Gulf of Oman, in the waters between Iran and Oman.
The shots fired on the second vessel (its identity has not been released) did not cause casualties or major damage and the Iranian ships retreated after the US Navy “retaliated” (how the Americans acted was not specified).
Both tankers continued 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.
