Iran seizes oil tanker involved in U.S. dispute off coast of Oman

Iran has captured an oil tanker that was previously involved in a dispute between Washington and Tehran over carrying U.S.-sanctioned crude, according to state media. The tanker was boarded by armed individuals near the Gulf of Oman and changed course towards Iranian waters. The vessel, named St. Nikolas, had surrendered Iranian crude to U.S. authorities due to allegations of sanctions violations. Earlier incidents in the Red Sea involve Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement targeting commercial vessels. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have increased, with President Joe Biden warning Iran to “be careful” during the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. The incident has raised concerns about potential supply bottlenecks and its impact on oil prices.