Islamic Republic Protests Seizure of Iranian Oil Tankers

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has described the U.S. Navy’s seizure of an oil tanker carrying nearly two million barrels of Iranian crude oil in the Indian Ocean as “legitimizing piracy and armed robbery at sea.”

Writing on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Baghaei stated: “Welcome to the age of the return of pirates. With the difference that this time, they operate under official flags and government orders, calling their actions ‘law enforcement and implementation’.”

The spokesperson’s post was a response to U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie K. Liu, who announced that her office had secured a court order to seize the tankers. In her statement, the U.S. Attorney wrote: “Overnight, pursuant to a seizure warrant obtained by my office and signed by a federal judge, U.S. forces intercepted and seized the ‘dark fleet’ tanker ‘MT Majestic’ (formerly known as ‘MT Phoenix’), which was carrying approximately 1.9 million barrels of Iranian oil, in the Indian Ocean. Additionally, earlier this week, U.S. forces similarly seized the tanker ‘MT Tiffany,’ which was also carrying approximately 1.9 million barrels of Iranian oil, based on one of our seizure warrants.”

Baghaei further emphasized: “The United States must be held fully accountable for this blatantly illegal behavior; an action that strikes at the foundations of international law and global free trade and threatens the fundamental principles of maritime security.”

Simultaneously, Amir Saeed Iravani, Iran’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, addressed the UN Security Council, calling on the Secretary-General to take a stance against the U.S. naval blockade on Iran. He criticized what he termed the “militarization of international shipping” by the United States.

Referencing U.S. and Israeli military attacks on his country, Iravani said: “The Strait of Hormuz has been increasingly used to support military operations in the region, including the transfer of military equipment aimed at hostile acts against Iran. This militarization has exposed international shipping to higher and unprecedented risks in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.”

The Iranian Ambassador to the UN also rejected criticism of his country regarding the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, stating: “As the primary coastal state where the Strait of Hormuz is located within its territorial waters, Iran has taken necessary and practical measures, consistent with international law, to counter emerging threats in favor of safe and secure navigation, to maintain the continuous passage of ships, and to prevent the misuse of this vital waterway for hostile or military purposes.”