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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy on Thursday said Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday amid wider tensions over Tehran's nuclear program.
The Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet identified the vessel as the Advantage Sweet. Satellite tracking data for the vessel from MarineTraffic.com showed it in the Gulf of Oman just north of Oman's capital, Muscat, on Thursday afternoon. It had just come from Kuwait and listed its destination as Houston, Texas.
“The oil tanker issued a distress call during the seizure,” the 5th Fleet said. “Iran's actions are contrary to international law and disruptive to regional security and stability. Iran should immediately release the oil tanker.”
The vessel's owners could not be immediately reached for comment. Iran did not immediately acknowledge the seizure.