A ship anchored off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been seized and is heading toward Iranian territorial waters, according to the British military. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported that the vessel was taken by unauthorized personnel while anchored 38 nautical miles northeast of the UAE port of Fujairah, near the Strait of Hormuz. The UKMTO did not name the ship and is currently investigating the incident. There have been no immediate claims of responsibility for the seizure.
Fujairah is a critical oil export terminal and the UAE's main port outside the Persian Gulf. It has been the target of repeated attacks during the ongoing war with Iran. Iran has seized several ships since the conflict began, including the oil tanker Ocean Koi last week. The Iranian navy claimed the tanker was attempting to disrupt oil exports and Iranian interests, according to the official IRNA news agency. The tanker was seized in the Gulf of Oman and was reportedly carrying Iranian oil when it was boarded and taken to Iran's southern coast. The U.S. sanctioned the Ocean Koi in February, alleging it was part of a 'shadow fleet' transporting Iranian oil.
The seizure comes after Iran's foreign minister accused Kuwait of attacking an Iranian boat and arresting four of its citizens in the Gulf. Abbas Araghchi demanded the immediate release of the nationals, stating that the incident occurred near an island used by the U.S. to attack Iran. Kuwait's interior ministry confirmed the arrest of four individuals earlier this month, who allegedly confessed to belonging to Iran's Revolutionary Guards and were tasked with a mission in the region.