MV Asphalt Princess: Suspected hijackers leave ship off UAE

[Eugene]

Earlier DU thread: MV Asphalt Princess: Ship hijacked off UAE ordered to sail to Iran

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Source: BBC

MV Asphalt Princess: Suspected hijackers leave ship off UAE

4 August 2021

Men who boarded and seized a ship in the Gulf of Oman have left the vessel and all those remaining on board are safe, officials say.

A UK maritime security agency said the potential hijacking of the Panama-flagged MV Asphalt Princess had ended but gave no further details.

The bitumen tanker was seized on Tuesday heading into the congested approach to the Strait of Hormuz.

It is not clear who seized the ship, but analysts suspected Iranian forces.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards dismissed reports of possible involvement as a pretext for "hostile action" against Tehran.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58083671

[WHITT]

1. Iran "Smells A Rat"

Reports of security incidents in Oman Sea 'suspicious'

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh described as totally suspicious the reports of successive security incidents involving vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, warning against any effort to create a vicious atmosphere to pursue certain political goals.

Khatibzadeh at the same time reaffirmed Iran’s policy of establishing security and stability in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and said Iranian naval forces are prepared to provide support, if needed, to vessels that send distress signals while passing through the strategic waters of the region.

"In case of problems in navigation systems, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to provide assistance and investigate the matter closely," he added.

He further expressed Iran's preparedness to cooperate with the regional countries to boost maritime security and monitoring of naval transit routes.