Iran seizes US-sanctioned tanker carrying Islamic regime’s oil in Gulf of Oman

Iran seized a US-sanctioned tanker carrying Iranian oil in the Gulf of Oman, the Islamic Republic’s army said Friday after American and Iranian forces clashed in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Barbados-flagged tanker, Ocean Koi, was stopped and forced back to the southern coast of Iran following an alleged attempt to “harm and disrupt oil exports … by exploiting regional conditions,” Tehran’s military said.

The tanker, which has been under US sanctions since February, was turned over to judicial authorities, according to state media.

The seizure came after the US military had unleashed a wave of “self-defense” strikes on an Iranian port Thursday following an “unprovoked” attack by Iran on US Navy ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, officials said.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the retaliatory attack was carried out after US forces intercepted multiple missiles, drones and small boats targeting three guided-missile destroyers traveling through the vital waterway.

President Trump brushed off the attack Thursday evening as the White House clung to what was left of an increasingly fragile cease-fire.

“They trifled with us today. We blew them away,” the president told reporters.

The skirmish came as the US was awaiting Iran’s response to the administration’s latest proposal for ending the nine-and-a-half-week-old war.

“They have to understand: If it doesn’t get signed, they’re going to have a lot of pain,” said Trump, who responded when asked how close the sides were to a deal: “It could happen any day.”

The president then quickly added: “And it might not happen.”