SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iran’s revolutionary guards foiled an attempt by the United States to “steal” the country’s oil in the Sea of Oman, state TV reported on Wednesday.
Iranian state TV said U.S. forces used helicopters and warships to try to block an Iranian oil tanker in the Sea of Iman.
“The United States stopped a tanker exporting Iranian oil and transferred its cargo to another tanker which it directed towards an unknown destination,” it said.
“The naval arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards then captured the tanker with air support.”
Iran’s English-language Press TV said the tanker was back in the country’s territorial waters.
The U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet told Reuters that it had seen reports of the incident but at present had no information to provide.
Iran has repeatedly warned the United States about its military activities in the Gulf, saying that the Guards naval forces have increased patrols to also secure the passage of Iranian ships and combat fuel smuggling.
