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At least four vessels have broadcasted warning under unclear circumstances off the coast of the United Arab Emirates .
The oil tankers Queen Ematha under the flag of Guyana, Golden Brilliant (Singapore), Jag Pooja (India) and Abyss (Vietnam) reported a loss of control at different times on August 3.
According to Sky News, the Asphalt Princess tanker under the flag of Panama was also seized in the Gulf of Oman. According to the report a group of eight or nine armed people boarded the ship.
A C-295 MPA of #Oman #AirForce is now flying over burning #ship #GoldenBrilliant to assist in Search & Rescue, no confirmation on injured or killed crew in #Iran #IRGC attack.
Some other reports suggest that “GoldenBrilliant” is still underway & not heavily damaged or on fire. pic.twitter.com/B0n1b15rWf
— Muhammad Tariq Khan 🇵🇰 (@Spugmay) August 3, 2021
#BREAKING | One of the allegedly detained ships continues on its way
Marine Traffic website: Shows Vietnam tanker ABYSS heading to Khasab port, Oman after starting its engines pic.twitter.com/sq6MVzmRxN
— Dailyaz (@dailyaz1) August 3, 2021
A spokesman for the British Foreign Office claimed that the agency was investigating “an incident on a ship off the coast of the UAE.”
Later on the same day, the UK Maritime Trade Organization announced another incident off the coast of the eastern UAE emirate Fujairah, without clarifying the vessel. It considers the incident as a “potential seizure” that was not a piracy.
Meanwhile, The Times, citing sources in the British government, claimed that Tehran or its allies might be involved in the incident with Asphalt Princess.
In response, the official representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, called the reports of incidents with tankers in the Gulf of Oman a “very suspicious situation.”
Tehran proclaimed its readiness to help in the investigation.
The reports come a few days after the Mercer Street tanker was attacked off the coast of Oman. The U.S. and U.K. hurried up to accuse Iran of being responsible for the alleged drone strike on an oil tanker.
MORE ON THE TOPIC:
- Updated: Fatalities Confirmed. Israeli-Operated Oil Tanker Targeted In Gulf Of Oman: Conflicting Reports Of Cause
- Iran Denies Responsibility For Recent Tanker Attack Following Accusations By Israeli Prime Minister
- Attack On Israeli-Operated Fuel Tanker In Arabian Sea Was Response To Recent Strikes On Syria – Report
- U.S. And UK Accuse Iran Of Carrying Out Drone Attack On Tanker, Plan UNSC Meeting
