Iran Claims to Have Seized U.S. Ship

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/iran-claims-have-seized-us-ship_933291.html


Iran Claims to Have Seized U.S. Ship
U.S. says report is false.


The Iranian organ Farsnews claims that Iran has seized a U.S. ship. Thirty-four are on board, the outlet claims. Fars claims:

The Iranian Navy has confiscated the American trade vessel with all its 34 crew for trespassing on Iran's territorial waters in the Persian Gulf.

An Iranian warship is now taking the American vessel to Iran's Southern port city of Bandar Abbas in the Persian Gulf.

There has been no official confirmation of the seizure yet.


Al Arabiya is reporting that U.S. has been fired on by the Iranians:

Iran has fired at a U.S. cargo ship and has directed it to Bandar Abbas port on the southern coast of Iran, Al Arabiya News Channel has reported on Tuesday.

Up to 34 American sailors are believed to be onboard the ship, Al Arabiya reported.


CNBC reports the U.S. Navy says the claims are false:

Senior U.S. Navy officials told NBC News there had not been any confrontation between Iran's Revolutionary Guard and any Navy ships, however.

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/irans-military-seizes-us-cargo-ship-10210291.html


US Navy dispatches destroyer after Iran 'fires warnings shots and boards cargo ship'


Iranian forces have reportedly fired at and seized a US cargo ship with 34 sailors on board, according to Saudi Arabian state TV.

The vessel has been directed to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on the southern coast, Al-Arabiya has reported.

It remains unclear why or if the ship was captured, and whether the shots injured anyone on-board, as neither US nor Iranian officials have confirmed the allegations. The US Fifth Fleet off the coast of Bahrain had no immediate comment on the report, according to Reuters.

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency suggested that the ship was trespassing in the Persian Gulf.

However, a US official told Reuters that there are no indications so far that any US ship is being directed by Iranian forces.

 

http://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-reportedly-seizes-us-cargo-ship-holds-crew/


US Navy called in after Iran fires at cargo ship in Persian GulfPentagon says Iranians board Marshall Islands-flagged Maersk Tigris; Iran says ship is owned by US, held over financial dispute


Iranian patrol vessels fired warning shots across the bridge of a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel that was traversing the Strait of Hormuz in Iranian territorial waters, a Pentagon official said Tuesday.

The comment came after a Saudi report claimed Tehran had captured a US ship and detained 34 soldiers aboard.


Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said the cargo ship’s master had initially refused an Iranian order to move further into Iranian waters, but after the warning shots were fired the MV Maersk Tigris complied.

The cargo ship then “complied with the Iranian demand and proceeded into Iranian waters in the vicinity of Larak Island,” Warren said.

Warren said the cargo ship had been boarded by Iranians, but no one had been injured and no Americans were involved.