US Navy reported that it had successfully intervened to prevent Iran from seizing two commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The incident occurred on Wednesday when an Iranian naval vessel approached the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker TRF Moss, which was in international waters in the Gulf of Oman.
The US Navy stated that the Iranian vessel retreated from the scene when the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul arrived at the location. The Navy had deployed surveillance assets, including maritime patrol aircraft, to monitor the situation closely.
Approximately three hours after the first incident, the Navy received a distress call from another commercial tanker, the Bahamas-flagged Richmond Voyager. At the time, the ship was more than 32 km off the coast of Muscat, Oman, and was transiting through international waters. The Navy reported that another Iranian naval vessel had come within one mile of the Richmond Voyager and was signaling the commercial tanker to stop.
In response, the USS McFaul directed its course toward the merchant ship at maximum speed. Before McFaul could reach the scene, Iranian personnel reportedly fired multiple long bursts from both small arms and crew-served weapons.
Despite the attack, the Richmond Voyager sustained no casualties or significant damage. Several rounds did hit the ship’s hull near the crew living spaces, but the Iranian navy vessel departed once the McFaul arrived. Chevron, the US oil major managing the Richmond Voyager, confirmed that the crew onboard were safe and the vessel was operating normally.
This incident underscores the ongoing tensions in the Gulf region and the crucial role of the US Navy in ensuring the safety of commercial vessels in international waters.