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Iran Seizes Vietnamese Oil Tanker in Gulf of Oman
(AP-Washington Post) Jon Gambrell - Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops seized the Vietnamese-flagged oil tanker MV Southys at gunpoint in the Gulf of Oman on Oct. 24, two U.S. officials said. U.S. forces monitored the seizure but took no action as the vessel sailed into Iranian waters. Iran celebrated its capture of the vessel in dramatic footage aired on state television showing Iranian commandos rappelling onto the boat from a helicopter as small speedboats surrounded the vessel. Iran claimed that the U.S. Navy had detained the tanker carrying Iranian oil and the Guard had freed it. "It's a bogus claim," said Pentagon press secretary John Kirby. "The only seizing that was done was by Iran," in "a blatant violation of international law that undermines freedom of navigation." U.S. officials said Wednesday that information on the seizure had yet to be made public amid ongoing attempts to restart talks with Iran over the 2015 nuclear deal. Indirect talks are to resume Nov. 29 in Vienna.