Iranian navy vessels fire on oil tanker in the Gulf
One US official said Iran had attempted to intercept the vessel in international waters because Tehran says the tanker is liable for damage to an Iranian-owned oil platform it hit on 22 March.
Iranian naval vessels have fired shots at a Singapore-flagged tanker in the Gulf in what appeared to be Iran's latest attempt to settle a legal dispute by force with passing commercial vessels, US officials said.
The incident unnerved the shipping industry just as President Barack Obama met with Gulf allies to try to allay their concerns that Iran would be empowered by a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the West lifting sanctions.
US officials said five Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy ships approached the Alpine Eternity oil products tanker at about noon local time, prompting the ship to flee to safety in United Arab Emirates' waters.
One US official said Iran had attempted to intercept the vessel in international waters because Tehran says the tanker is liable for damage to an Iranian-owned oil platform it hit on 22 March.
The White House, Pentagon and State Department declined to confirm emerging details about the episode but acknowledged concern about Iran's conduct.
Two weeks ago, Iranian patrol ships diverted a Marshall Islands-flagged container vessel from the Strait of Hormuz to settle a years-old debt case.
Shipping industry officials said they were bracing for the likelihood of even more tensions at sea, which could lead to a spike in shipping costs.
