Iranians boarded Gulf of Oman tanker: Recording

Clarifies that the communication was with Omani coastguards, not UAE as stated in earlier story

A group of Iranians boarded a tanker that was subject to a potential hijack situation in the Gulf of Oman yesterday, according to a recording of communications between the ship and the Omani coastguard heard by Argus.

In the recording, a crew member identified the tanker as the Asphalt Princess, said that there were "5-6 Iranians" on board "with ammunition" and that the ship was drifting. Asked what the Iranians wanted, the crew member said he did not understand and suggested the coastguards talk directly to them.

The crew member said that the Asphalt Princess had departed Bandar Abbas, an Iranian port in the strait of Hormuz. Vortexa said that it was destined for Sohar, Oman.

The incident has now concluded, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said today. "Boarders have left the vessel. Vessel is safe. Incident complete," the UK navy-linked organisation said. Yesterday it had said that the incident was not related to piracy.

As of around five hours ago the Asphalt Princess was about 75 miles (120km) off the coast of Fujairah, UAE.

Yesterday the Iranian foreign ministry said reports of security incidents involving ships in the region were "suspicious" and warned against "false propagation". Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said that Iran's policy is to establish stability and security in the region, according to state-run news agency Irna.

Yesterday's incident follows a deadly attack on a products tanker in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Oman last week, which the US, the UK and Israel blamed on Iran. Tehran denied involvement.

By Elshan Aliyev