A still from footage showing an Iranian naval vessel firing several long bursts of rounds from small arms and crew-served weapons during an attempt to seize a tanker in the Gulf of Oman. Reuters
A still from footage showing an Iranian naval vessel firing several long bursts of rounds from small arms and crew-served weapons during an attempt to seize a tanker in the Gulf of Oman. Reuters
A still from footage showing an Iranian naval vessel firing several long bursts of rounds from small arms and crew-served weapons during an attempt to seize a tanker in the Gulf of Oman. Reuters
A still from footage showing an Iranian naval vessel firing several long bursts of rounds from small arms and crew-served weapons during an attempt to seize a tanker in the Gulf of Oman. Reuters

Iran tried to seize two oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz, US says


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Iran tried to seize two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, firing at one vessel, the US Navy said on Wednesday.

The Iranian Navy retreated after the US Navy responded to distress signals and both commercial ships continued their voyages, it said.

“The Iranian Navy did make attempts to seize commercial tankers lawfully transiting international waters,” said Cdr Timothy Hawkins, a spokesman for the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

He said the navy “responded immediately” but that Iranian forces had fired shots during the attempted second seizure.

The US Central Command said the first ship Iran sought to seize was the Marshall Islands-flagged TRF Moss, which was in the Gulf of Oman when an Iranian vessel approached at 1am local time on Wednesday.

“The Iranian vessel departed the scene when US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul arrived on station,” Centcom said.

Three hours later, the US Navy received a distress call from the Bahamian-flagged Richmond Voyager, which was positioned more than 30km off the coast of Muscat.

Another Iranian naval vessel was close to the tanker and messaged it to stop.

Before the arrival of the USS McFaul, “Iranian personnel fired multiple, long bursts from both small arms and crew-served weapons,” Centcom said.

Several rounds hit the hull of the tanker but there were no casualties or significant damage, it said.

The UK Maritime Component Command on Wednesday called the incidents “unacceptable harassment, threatening freedom of navigation and harming global trade”.

Tehran has seized several vessels in the Arabian Gulf during heightened tensions with the US, which has navy patrols in the area.

In May, it seized two tankers in a single week and has been accused of holding a vessel as a “bargaining chip” over a payment dispute.

The UK's Maritime Trade Organisation also reported the “suspicious incident” involving “national maritime forces” off the coast of Oman, but did not name Iran.

Maritime security company Ambrey said the second ship was a Bahamas-flagged oil tanker, which is Greek-owned and US-managed.

It continued its journey through Omani waters but increased its speed and changed course after the incident, according to Ambrey.

Tehran has seized at least five commercial vessels in the past two years and has harassed several others, the US Navy said.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington increased after the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal.

President Donald Trump in 2018 reinstated sanctions on Tehran and later ordered the assassination of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qassem Suleimani, sending relations into deeper crisis in early 2020.

Iran has responded by increasing its nuclear activities – which it says are peaceful – and is also providing armed drones to Russia for its war against Ukraine.

Agencies contributed to this report

Match info

Uefa Champions League Group H

Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)

Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)

Friday

Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)

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Saturday

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Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)

Bert van Marwijk factfile

Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder

Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia

Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands

MATCH INFO

Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)

Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD

The%20specs
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Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars

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Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
'Lost in Space'

Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen

Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins

Rating: 4/5

Founder: Ayman Badawi

Date started: Test product September 2016, paid launch January 2017

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Software

Size: Seven employees

Funding: $170,000 in angel investment

Funders: friends

Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

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Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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Indika
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The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8

Transmission: seven-speed

Power: 620bhp

Torque: 760Nm

Price: Dh898,000

On sale: now

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

MATCH INFO

Serie A

Juventus v Fiorentina, Saturday, 8pm (UAE)

Match is on BeIN Sports

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

Updated: July 06, 2023, 6:22 AM