US Navy Says It Stopped Iran from Seizing 2 Oil Tankers

The U.S. Navy said Wednesday it had intervened to prevent Iranian vessels from seizing two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

The first attempt targeted a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker in international waters, according to the official statement. As the Iranian Navy ship approached, the U.S. Navy said it deployed the USS McFaul, a guided-missile destroyer, in addition to a drone and a patrol plane. The Iranian ship reversed its course without incident or damage to the vessel.

A U.S. defense official told CNN there was no other reason for the Iranian ship to have approached the tanker other than an attempt at seizing it.

In the second incident, the Navy said an Iranian naval vessel fired on a Bahamian-flagged oil tanker, also in international waters. According to the statement, Iranian personnel fired multiple bursts that hit the ship near crew living spaces, causing no casualties or significant damage.

The U.S. once again deployed the USS McFaul, according to the statement, and again the Iranian vessel left the scene.

The U.S. said no U.S. Navy vessels had fired on Iranian ships or suffered any damage in either incident.

For decades, Iranian and U.S. naval forces have experienced tense and occasional confrontational encounters. These typically involve Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps rather than the Iranian Navy. Amid escalating tensions, in May the U.S. declared its intent to reinforce what it called its "defensive posture" in the Persian Gulf, citing Iran's frequent intimidation of merchant ships.

John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesperson, told reporters in May that "We have seen repeated Iranian threats, armed seizures and attacks against commercial shippers who are exercising their navigational rights and freedoms in international waterways."

Iran captured two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, one of which was en route to the U.S., in late April and early May, Reuters reported.