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The spokesperson revealed that the United States is tracking reports that the Iranian regime has actually seized a South Korean-flagged oil tanker.
He said the Iranian regime “continues to threaten navigation rights and freedoms in the Persian Gulf as part of an apparent attempt to blackmail the international community to ease the pressure of sanctions.”
He added: “We join the voice of South Korea calling on Iran to release the tanker immediately.”
Earlier on Monday, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard detained the tanker “Hankook Kimi”, citing environmental and chemical contamination caused by the ship, according to the description of the “Yonhap” news agency.
The ship, which left the port of Jubail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bound for the United Arab Emirates, was carrying 20 people on board, including 5 from South Korea, 11 from Myanmar and two from Indonesia and Vietnam.
“The Korean Ministry and the Korean Embassy in Iran have confirmed that the crew is in good health and we demand the early release of the ship,” the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
For its part, the South Korean Defense Ministry said that the anti-piracy unit “Chung-hee” is heading towards the accident site and that it will respond to the incident in cooperation with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries, and the multinational maritime force that operates in nearby waters.
Earlier on Monday, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced the arrest of a tanker carrying the South Korean flag in the waters of the Persian Gulf.
And satellite data released by (Marine Traffic.com) showed that the tanker (MT Hancock Chimi) was stopped in front of the town of Bandar Abbas on Monday afternoon without explanation.
The tanker left Saudi Arabia for the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates before being detained by the Iranian Guard Navy, amid an escalation of tension in the region that could lead to a dangerous escalation.
