Escalating the already frayed relations between the UAE and Iran, the Emirati tanker, seized in the northern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, has been diverted to Iran’s southern port of Bandar Abbas. The tanker’s destination was initially listed as Jebel Ali port.
According to IRGC-affiliated Fars News read: “The seized Emirati tanker, which was intercepted in the northern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz, has changed course toward Bandar Abbas. The tanker’s destination was initially listed as Jebel Ali port, but it is now heading toward Bandar Abbas.”
Fars has not disclosed the name of the tanker, the company that owns it, the ship's flag, the cargo, or the official reason for the seizure, raising questions about the nature of the action. Reports said the tanker in question is the "AMARA", sailing under the Liberian flag.
However, the report reiterated Iran’s claim about setting specific arrangements and routes for ships to safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Using the designated route, paying for services, and obtaining permission to pass are among the conditions that oil tankers must comply with to pass through this route, Fars claimed.
The UAE has accused the Islamic Republic of attacking vessels affiliated with the ADNOC oil company in recent days. Now, the seizure of an Emirati tanker and its transfer to Bandar Abbas could take tensions between Tehran and Abu Dhabi to a new level.
Yesterday, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement announcing that all activities, trade exchanges, and financial transactions with the Islamic Republic have been suspended until further notice. This came after Abu Dhabi accused Iranian forces of firing two ballistic missiles at the country, an allegation Tehran denies.
The UAE’s Ministry of Defence said its air defences detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran, with one falling outside the country’s territorial waters and the other landing within them.
Interestingly, this also came just a day after the first signs of thawing relations emerged between Abu Dhabi and Tehran, most notably the resumption of flights by Flydubai and Emirates in Iranian airspace for the first time in months. According to Israeli media, in recent days, movement of Emirati presidential planes over Iran was also detected.
