DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — British military authorities reported Thursday that unauthorized personnel have taken control of a vessel anchored off the United Arab Emirates’ eastern coastline, with the ship now moving toward Iranian territorial waters.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, the incident occurred while the vessel was positioned 38 nautical miles (70 kilometers, 44 miles) northeast of Fujairah, a UAE port located near the Strait of Hormuz.
The vessel seizure takes place while U.S. President Donald Trump conducts a highly anticipated diplomatic meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Their discussions are anticipated to address the ongoing Iranian conflict, which has significantly impacted global commerce in oil, gas and other commodities while causing economic instability worldwide.
The incident occurred just hours following Israel’s announcement that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had conducted an undisclosed trip to the United Arab Emirates during the Israeli-U.S. conflict with Iran, although UAE officials quickly refuted any such clandestine meeting took place.
The Gulf state established diplomatic ties with Israel in 2020. Iran has condemned this diplomatic arrangement and has consistently alleged through the years that Israel operates military and intelligence facilities within the Emirates.
Israeli officials have conducted periodic trips to the UAE following the establishment of diplomatic relations.
UKMTO has not identified the vessel and stated they are conducting an investigation. No groups have immediately taken responsibility for the seizure.
Fujairah serves as a crucial oil shipping facility and represents the UAE’s primary port located beyond the Persian Gulf boundaries. The facility has faced multiple attacks throughout the Iranian conflict.
Iran has captured multiple vessels following the conflict’s start.
Iranian naval forces captured an oil tanker called the Ocean Koi last week, claiming it was working to interfere with oil shipments and Iranian operations, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Officials stated the tanker was captured in the Gulf of Oman while transporting Iranian oil when personnel boarded it and directed it to Iran’s southern coastline.
U.S. authorities imposed sanctions on the Ocean Koi in February, describing it as part of a “shadow fleet” involved in moving Iranian oil.
