Key points: U.S. officials say Iran seized the Marshall Islands‑flagged tanker Talara in the Strait of Hormuz and diverted it into Iranian territorial waters. A U.S. Navy MQ‑4C Triton drone reportedly observed the incident while Ambrey said three small boats approached the tanker. Columbia Shipmanagement lost contact with the vessel, which was carrying high‑sulphur gasoil, and said crew safety is its top priority. The seizure adds to a string of maritime incidents tied to Iran amid elevated regional tensions.
Iran Seizes Marshall Islands‑Flagged Tanker Talara in Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Says
Key points: U.S. officials say Iran seized the Marshall Islands‑flagged tanker Talara in the Strait of Hormuz and diverted it into Iranian territorial waters. A U.S. Navy MQ‑4C Triton drone reportedly observed the incident while Ambrey said three small boats approached the tanker. Columbia Shipmanagement lost contact with the vessel, which was carrying high‑sulphur gasoil, and said crew safety is its top priority. The seizure adds to a string of maritime incidents tied to Iran amid elevated regional tensions.
04:32 PM, 11/14/2025Security
Iran seizes Marshall Islands‑flagged tanker in Strait of Hormuz, U.S. official says
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — A U.S. official said Iran seized the Marshall Islands‑flagged oil tanker Talara as it transited the narrow Strait of Hormuz on Friday, diverting the vessel into Iranian territorial waters in what U.S. sources described as the first such interdiction in months.
The seizure had not been acknowledged by Iranian authorities at the time of reporting. The move comes amid heightened regional tensions after a 12‑day confrontation in June involving Israel and reports of strikes on sites linked to Iran, which Tehran has said could prompt retaliation.
The Talara was en route from Ajman, United Arab Emirates, to Singapore when Iranian forces intercepted the ship, the U.S. defense official said on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. Flight‑tracking data reviewed by reporters showed a U.S. Navy MQ‑4C Triton drone circling the area for hours while the action occurred.
Private security firm Ambrey said the assault involved three small boats approaching the tanker. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center characterized the incident as possible "state activity," saying the vessel was forced to alter course into Iranian territorial waters.
Cyprus‑based Columbia Shipmanagement later reported it had "lost contact" with the Talara, which was carrying high‑sulphur gasoil. The company said it had notified relevant authorities and was coordinating with maritime security agencies and the vessel owner to reestablish contact, stressing that the safety of the crew is the top priority.
U.S. officials have previously attributed a series of maritime attacks to Iran, including limpet‑mine incidents in 2019 that damaged tankers and a 2021 drone strike on an Israeli‑linked oil tanker that killed two European crew members. The last major state‑level seizure occurred in May 2022, when Iran detained two Greek tankers until November of that year.
Those tensions were compounded by subsequent Iranian‑backed Houthi attacks on shipping during the Israel–Hamas war, which sharply reduced traffic through the Red Sea corridor. Iran has long threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow outlet of the Persian Gulf through which roughly 20% of seaborne traded oil passes — and the U.S. Navy’s Bahrain‑based 5th Fleet regularly patrols the region to help keep shipping lanes open.
What to watch: Authorities are monitoring the welfare of the Talara’s crew, diplomatic responses from affected states, and any further maritime activity in the Strait that could disrupt global energy trade.