Speedboats of the Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran patrol in front of an oil tanker in the port of Bandar Abas, in the south of the Persian country (Photo: AFP)
Forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) foiled a US piracy attempt in the Gulf of Oman, the Fars News agency reported today.
This Wednesday, November 3, the state television outlet of Iran detailed how the United States attempted to pirate a shipment of Iranian oil in the Gulf of Oman. “The IRGC ships engaged the US ship in response to its unprofessional behavior in Iranian waters,” stated the Fars News agency.
The IRGC said they will release a video showing scenes from the confronted US warship’s escape into the Gulf.
#Breaking video aired on Iran national TV of their navy stopping USA navy and coastguard from pirating an Iranian oil tanker in Gulf of Oman. Full information in thread starting here. 1/ https://t.co/Th6BUBTeNw pic.twitter.com/ZRuyCop3lN
— Laith لَيثْ (@Laith_Marouf) November 3, 2021
RELATED CONTENT: Another Iranian Tanker Delivers Condensate to Venezuela
The Revolutionary Guard declared that “the Islamic Republic will protect its territorial waters and the safety of maritime navigation,” adding that Iran will oppose any violation of its national interests.
US naval forces “stopped an Iranian tanker in the Gulf of Oman, confiscated its cargo and transferred the cargo to another tanker that belonged to it before heading to an unknown destination,” stated the IRGC.
Iran’s state television outlet added that, in response to the attempted piracy, the IRGC conducted special operations on the US tanker, taking control of it and immediately directing the tanker into Iranian territorial waters.
RELATED CONTENT: Anti-Iran and Anti-Venezuela Agents Conspire
Fars News detailed that “after the incident, several US helicopters and warships tried to regain control of the tanker, but their attempts to change the course of the ship failed.”
The Iranian authorities confirmed that “the tanker is currently within the territorial waters of Iran.”
According to Beirut-based journalist Laith Marouf, the maritime altercation may have involved an Iranian tanker on its way to Venezuela. “Earlier in the morning USA navy pirated an Iranian tanker on its way to Venezuela,” wrote Marouf. “Conflicting sources say this [IRGC foiling] action was in response to that, or this is actually the same tanker and Iran was recapturing it from the Americans.”
Al Mayadeen news service reported that on Tuesday, November 2, an Iranian Navy team thwarted an attempt to hijack an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden. “This is the second operation of its kind in two weeks,” stated the outlet.
In addition, Iranian Navy commander Shahram Irani had announced that “Iranian forces responded to an attempt to hijack two Iranian oil tankers on October 16. ”
Featured image: Speedboats of the Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran patrol in front of an oil tanker in the port of Bandar Abas, in the south of the Persian country (Photo: AFP).
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE
