UKMTO Says Unauthorized Personnel Seized Ship Near Fujairah, Heading Toward Iranian Waters

A ship anchored off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates was seized and is heading toward Iranian waters, the British military said Thursday, with the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center receiving reports that the vessel was taken by unauthorized personnel while at anchor 38 nautical miles northeast of the UAE port of Fujairah.

The UKMTO said the seizure occurred near the Strait of Hormuz, and it did not identify the vessel or who was behind its capture while it investigated.

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The incident was described as part of a broader pattern of maritime disruption as Iran and the US push on with rival blockades, with Iran having captured a number of vessels including a tanker identified as the Ocean Koi last week.

In the same reporting, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted at a BRICS bloc meeting in New Delhi that the Strait of Hormuz "is open for all" commercial vessels that "cooperate" with its navy.

The seizure also landed as U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, with discussions expected to focus on the war with Iran that has disrupted trade in oil, gas and other products.

Euronews reported that Iranian judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir said the seizure of what he described as “violating” US vessels is carried out under court orders and in accordance with domestic and international law.

Jahangir said, "The seizure of violating American oil tankers is an action grounded in domestic and international laws," and he added that detention was based on “firm and final rulings issued by competent Iranian courts.”

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Euronews also said Iran has largely blocked shipping through the strait since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on 28 February, while Washington has imposed its own naval blockade on Iranian ports despite a fragile ceasefire in place since 8 April.

In parallel, the Orlando Sentinel report tied the seizure to the wider conflict environment, noting that Fujairah has been repeatedly attacked during the war with Iran.

The same Orlando Sentinel account said the UKMTO did not name the ship and that there were no immediate claims of responsibility for the seizure.

The seizure adds to ongoing concerns about navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as the UKMTO advised ships in the area to report any suspicious activity and said the vessel is now bound for Iranian territorial waters.

Euronews reported that the incident came as Iran and the US push on with rival blockades, and it described the Strait of Hormuz as a key waterway where several ships have been seized or attacked.

Newsweek framed the seizure as further complicating U.S. efforts to bring an end to the war with Iran while Trump was in Beijing, and it said maritime traffic through the waterway is still a fraction of its typical levels.

Newsweek also quoted Iran’s threat posture, saying Iran has threatened to attack any ships it sees as unfriendly passing through the Strait while the U.S. has blocked Iranian oil exports from leaving the country’s ports.

In the same Euronews reporting, it said Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted the strait "is open for all" commercial vessels that "cooperate" with its navy, while Asghar Jahangir argued the seizures are grounded in domestic and international law.