Iran chose to release a ship five days after seizing it near the important Strait of Hormuz that sits between the UAE, Oman, and Iran. Iran had forced the Talara tanker and its 21 crew to divert to Iran on November 14. Apparently, it has been let go on its way toward Singapore. The overall incident now leaves many questions. It shows the ease with which Iran can still harass shipping. It’s not clear if Iran got a warning from the US or if it decided to release the vessel for other reasons.
Iran had grabbed the ship after forcing it to divert. The IRGC Navy, which uses fast boats, had been involved in seizing the ship. US Central Command said on November 16 that it was “seized after being boarded by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces who arrived by helicopter.”
Now, on November 19, the BBC said “Iran has released a Marshall Islands-flagged fuel product tanker that its forces seized in the Strait of Hormuz five days ago, according to the vessel's manager.” The report said “Cyprus-based Columbia Shipmanagement said all 21 crew members of Talara were ‘safe and in good spirits’, and that the vessel was ‘free to resume normal operations.’”
Iran or IRCG: Who took responsibility for seizing ship
There is a lack of clarity from Tehran on its actions. Iran had said the ship had “unauthorized cargo” but did not specify what Tehran was looking for. This could be a message from Iran to the US, the Gulf, and Israel that Tehran can continue to do what it wants. It could also be a mistake by Iran. It might also be a way for the IRGC Navy to show off. The IRGC Navy has its own small vessels, unlike Iran’s conventional navy.
The IRGC sometimes seems to wield foreign policy for Iran. Reports say Iran is still open to talks with the US. The visit of the Saudi Arabian delegation led by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to Washington coincided with Iran appearing to reach out again to the Trump administration.
According to the BBC, Columbia Shipmanagement said "no allegations were made against the vessel, her crew, and the vessel's managers and owners.” The report added that “Talara had been sailing to Singapore from the United Arab Emirates with a cargo of high-sulphur gasoil on Friday when it was seized around 20 nautical miles (37km) off the Emirati port of Khor Fakkan and diverted to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. In recent years, the IRGC has periodically seized tankers and cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf, through which about 20% of global oil and gas shipments pass.”
On November 16, US Central Command said “US Central Command forces monitored an incident involving Iranian forces illegally boarding and seizing a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker transiting international waters in the Strait of Hormuz, Nov. 14.” The report noted that the ship had been “seized after being boarded by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces who arrived by helicopter. IRGC operatives then steered the tanker to Iran’s territorial waters, where the ship remains.”
CENTCOM added that “Iran's use of military forces to conduct an armed boarding and seizure of a commercial vessel in international waters constitutes a blatant violation of international law, undermining freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce. We call on Iran to articulate to the international community the legal basis for its actions.”