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Iranian media reported on Monday. The tanker was seized amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Seoul over the seizure of Iranian funds from South Korean banks due to US sanctions.
Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim has published photos of the tanker’s arrest. The speedboat of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is seen to be guarding the Hankook Chemi tanker. The tanker contained 72,000 tons of ethanol, according to the report.
Its crew has also been detained along with the tanker. In addition to South Korea, the crew includes citizens from Indonesia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. However, her number was not disclosed. The tanker was stationed in the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas.
The South Korean-flagged tanker, owned by DM Shipping Company, set sail from the Petroleum Chemical Terminal in the Saudi coastal city of Jubail, according to British firm Umbri. The destination was the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
Dryad Global, another maritime security firm, said the tanker was likely intercepted by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz en route.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment on the tanker’s arrest. Iranian authorities have yet to comment.
A spokesman for the United States Navy Fifth Fleet in Bahrain said it was aware of the incident and was monitoring the situation.
South Korea’s deputy foreign minister is scheduled to visit Tehran in a few days. The incident took place before the tanker was seized.
The Iranian foreign minister said on Monday that the visit would take place in the next few days and would discuss the release of 600 million in Iranian funds seized by South Korean banks.
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