Vessel stopped transmitting its location on Saturday, when it was pointing towards Iran
Tracking data showing an oil tanker that was heading towards Iranian waters and stopped transmitting its location on Saturday night has raised concerns about the status of the vessel amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US.
The UAE-based and Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Riah typically made trips from Dubai and Sharjah on the UAE’s west coast before going through the strait of Hormuz and heading to Fujairah on the UAE’s east coast. However, something happened to the vessel after 11pm on Saturday, according to tracking data, when its last position showed it pointing towards Iran. Capt Ranjith Raja of the data firm Refinitiv said the tanker had not switched off its tracking in three months of trips around the UAE. “That is a red flag,” Raja said.
Iranian officials have not said anything publicly about the ship, nor have officials in the UAE. The US navy’s 5th Fleet declined to immediately comment.
