The oil tanker formerly known as the Suez Rajan was boarded in the Gulf of Oman by “unauthorized” personnel early on Thursday morning, according to reports from a group run by the British military and a private security firm. The vessel, now known as the St. Nikolas, had previously been at the center of a dispute between Iran and the United States, raising concerns about potential Iranian involvement in the latest seizure.
The apparent seizure comes at a time of increased tension in the region, with Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels launching attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. The United States and its allies have warned of possible consequences in response to these attacks, further raising the risk of escalated conflict.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that an unknown number of men wearing military-style uniforms boarded the St. Nikolas in the waters between Oman and Iran, covering surveillance cameras as they did so. The ship had been transporting crude oil from Iraq to Turkey for the Turkish refinery firm Tupras before changing course and heading towards the port of Bandar-e Jask in Iran.
The vessel was previously associated with the Greek shipping company Empire Navigation, which acknowledged losing contact with the St. Nikolas and its crew of 18 Filipinos and one Greek national. The company was implicated in a smuggling case involving the tanker in September, resulting in a fine of $2.4 million.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident, and the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which patrols the region, also did not comment. However, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency did mention the boarding but provided no further details.
The incident with the St. Nikolas marks the latest in a series of ship seizures and attacks attributed to Iran, as well as retaliatory measures by the U.S. and its allies. The situation remains tense, with concerns that further escalation in the region could disrupt global shipping and oil trading.
In addition to the seizure of the St. Nikolas, satellite tracking data analyzed on Thursday showed the departure of an Iranian cargo vessel, the Behshad, from the Red Sea. The Behshad had been suspected to be a potential spying platform and had been positioned in the region since 2021, raising further questions about Iranian activities in the area.