‘Smuggling fuel’: Iran state TV shows VIDEO of seized tanker days after UAE-based vessel vanishes

#IRGC releases footage showing seizure of ship smuggling fuel in Persian gulf#StraitOfHormuz #PersianGulf #tanker pic.twitter.com/v3RO4SBuGw

— Press TV (@PressTV) July 18, 2019

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More footage of the tanker seized by Iran's IRGC. pic.twitter.com/SS8doMfAOJ

— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) July 18, 2019

The ship in the video is apparently the MT Riah – a Panamanian-flagged tanker that went missing on Sunday. Tehran initially said that the ship experienced technical issues and was towed into Iranian water for repair.

The incident took place to the south of the Iranian Larak Island, in the northern part of the Strait of Hormuz, according to IRGC. The ship has been allegedly engaging into repeated trips between different emirates of the UAE – presumably carrying oil or fuel. But an Emirati security official has earlier denied the UAE owns or operates the vessel, adding that Riah did not send a distress call during the incident.

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