U.S. Central Command stated on Sunday that the Iranian military committed a “blatant violation of international law” when its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boarded a commercial boat in international waters via helicopter, stole the boat and moved it to Iranian waters.
Iranian forces are guilty of “undermining freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce,” CENTCOM said. “We call on Iran to articulate to the international community the legal basis for its actions.”
The U.S. military said Iran stole the tanker M/V Talara, which was flagged in the Marshall Islands, in the Strait of Hormuz on Nov. 14.
“U.S. forces will continue to remain vigilant and work alongside our partners and allies to promote regional peace and stability,” CENTCOM said.