Iran Seizes UAE-Linked Tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has seized a UAE-linked oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, with the vessel now moving toward the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, according to a report by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency. The tanker had originally been scheduled to sail to the UAE's Jebel Ali port before being intercepted in the northern shipping corridor near Qeshm Island. The seizure comes as Tehran enforces tighter requirements on vessels transiting the strategic waterway, including designated routes and mandatory permission from Iranian authorities. Iran has also restricted passage for ships linked to Israel or the United States, part of a broader pattern of escalating control over the corridor. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global energy route connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, and any disruption to traffic through it carries significant implications for global oil markets. Brent crude has remained above 90 dollars per barrel amid reports that operations through Hormuz continue to be disrupted. The incident adds to a series of recent tensions in the region, including missile threats reported near the UAE and ongoing disputes between Iran, the United States and Gulf states over shipping arrangements through the waterway.