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U.S. Army Central Command released a black-and-white video showing the impression of special forces being descended from a helicopter on MT Wila, whose last position gave the impression of being off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, near the city. Khorfakkan.
The Iranian helicopter in question gave the impression of being a Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, operated only by the Iranian army. The Iranian army also manages all operations in the Gulf of Oman, on the east side of the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of all commercialized oil passes. Two other Iranian military ships were concerned about the seizure, central command said.
U.S. army officers gave no explanation why Iran captured the ship. Iranian media and state officials did not acknowledge the seizure or give an explanation of the reason.
Officials from the United Arab Emirates, an allied united States federation of seven sheikhs in the Arabian Peninsula, responded to a request for comment.
The registered owner of Wila is a Liberian company called Bandit Shipping Co., managed by the Greek company IMS SA, according to United Nations records. No corporation can be contacted immediately.
The Wila had left Khor Al Zubair, Iraq, in early July before traveling near Dubai and later to Khorfakkan, where it has been for about a month, according to knowledge company Refinitiv. It is not transparent without delay what shipment it carries.
Private maritime intelligence company Dryad Global said it suspected that two ships had been harassed by Iranian paramilitary revolutionary guards in the Persian Gulf the following week, also due to the ship’s behavior.
As tensions between Iran and the United States intensified last year following the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from its 2015 nuclear agreement, tankers navigating Middle Eastern waters have become targets, specifically near the strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf. Alleged U.S. attacks on Iran have targeted several oil tankers. Iran has denied involvement, seized several oil tankers.
In July, an oil tanker sought across the United States “hijacked” off the coast of the United Arab Emirates after allegedly smuggling Iranian crude oil. The ship then ended up in Iranian waters, suggesting that Iran itself had seized the ship.