'Floating armoury' ship reportedly seized by Iran
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Iranian military personnel have seized the Honduras-flagged vessel Hui Chuan, reportedly operating as a "floating armoury" in the Gulf of Oman, and it is now headed toward Iranian territorial waters.
- The Hui Chuan stores weapons for security firms protecting ships from piracy, but the exact contents and users of the ship remain unconfirmed.
- The seizure follows an attack on the Indian-flagged livestock vessel Haji Ali off the coast of Oman, which sank after a suspected drone or missile explosion; all crew members were safely rescued by Omani authorities.
- The Haji Ali had departed from Berbera Port in Somalia and was en route to Sharjah in the UAE when the fire broke out, forcing the crew to abandon ship.
- The Strait of Hormuz situation was discussed during talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with China expressing opposition to the militarization of the area.