A U.S. military official says the Iranian navy briefly seized a Liberian-flagged oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz during tensions between Tehran and the United States.
The U.S. military's Central Command has released a black-and-white video showing Special Forces descending from a helicopter on a MV villa with a rope that The last position is near the city, in Khorfkan, off the east coast of the United Arab Emirates.
A U.S. military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Iranian navy detained the ship for about five hours before leaving.
He said Vela did not call for help during or after the occupation.
The Iranian helicopter involved in the operation was the Skorsky SH3, also known as the Sea King, which is owned only by the Iranian navy.
The Iranian navy oversees all operations in the Gulf of Oman on the eastern shore of the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for 20 percent of the world's oil trade.
Two other Iranian ships also took part in the seizure, Central Command said.
However, US military officials did not give a reason for the seizure.
Iran's state-run media and officials, on the other hand, did not immediately acknowledge the action or give a reason.
Officials in the United Arab Emirates, a seven-nation ally on the Arabian Peninsula, did not respond to a request for comment.
According to UN records, Willie's registered owner is a Liberian company called Bandit Shipping, which is run by the Greek firm IMSSA.
No company could be immediately reached for comment.
Dry Global, a private maritime intelligence firm, said it suspected that two other Iranian ships had been harassed in the Persian Gulf by Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guards over the past week.
It should be noted that the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the United States had increased tensions over the unilateral withdrawal of the United States, which has led to oil tankers being targeted in Middle Eastern waters.
The United States has accused Iran of targeting several tankers, but Iran has denied involvement, while seizing several tankers.
In July, a tanker bound for the United States off the coast of the United Arab Emirates was hijacked on charges of smuggling Iranian crude.
It was later found in Iranian waters, indicating that the ship was captured by Iran.
