Several Iranian media outlets, including Iranian state TV, said the Guards navy captured the vessel for polluting the Gulf with chemicals. Iranian authorities have yet to comment on the incident, which comes ahead of an expected visit by South Korea’s deputy foreign minister to Tehran. The United States re-imposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 after Washington withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers. Two maritime security companies earlier said the HANKUK CHEMI appeared to have been seized by Iranian authorities. In early 2019, Iran heightened tensions in the world’s busiest oil waterway by seizing British-flagged tanker Stena Impero two weeks after a British warship had intercepted an Iranian tanker off the coast of Gibraltar.

Source: bd News24 January 04, 2021 13:18 UTC