Iran Seizes South Korean-Flagged Tanker

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps seized a South Korean-flagged tanker in the Persian Gulf, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported on Monday.

Tasnim published pictures of the tanker Hankuk Chemi and said the vessel was carrying 7,200 tons of “oil chemical material.”

Iranian reports said the seizure was done because the ship was allegedly polluting the waters of the Persian Gulf. “According to initial reports by local officials, it is purely a technical matter and the ship was taken to shore for polluting the sea,” Iranian state TV quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying.

In a statement responding to the incident, South Korea’s foreign ministry said South Korean forces stationed in the Strait of Hormuz had been dispatched to the area. It’s not clear what type of forces South Korea deployed, or what authority they have.

Tasnim reported that the ship has been berthed in Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas for “legal procedures.”

The incident could be related to the fact that South Korea has frozen about $7 billion in Iranian funds due to US sanctions. Khatibzadeh said South Korea’s deputy foreign minister is expected to visit Tehran in the coming days, and the countries will discuss the $7 billion in frozen funds.

The seizure comes at a time of heightened US-Iran tensions. Recent weeks have seen frequent US provocations, with B-52 bombers deploying to the region on three separate occasions. In the latest move, the US reversed a decision to bring the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz out of the Middle East, citing Iranian “threats.”