Iran calls US ship seizure ‘piracy’: Is it?

Key Points:

• Iran seized two foreign commercial vessels near its coast in retaliation for the US capture of the Iranian tanker Touska near the Strait of Hormuz, accusing the US of "piracy" and claiming the seized tankers violated maritime regulations.
• The US military enforced a naval blockade on Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz, capturing the Touska after it allegedly defied US orders to withdraw; this is part of ongoing US efforts to disrupt Iranian maritime activities amid heightened tensions.
• Iran responded to US military actions, including the sinking of the Iranian warship IRIS Dena and the recent tanker seizure, with threats of retaliation and accusations that the US is violating ceasefire agreements and engaging in "state terrorism."
• Legal experts state that under international law, the US actions do not constitute piracy since piracy involves private gain, whereas the US is enforcing sanctions and blockades as a government; however, the aggressive maritime enforcement has drawn criticism.
• The US has a history of seizing sanctioned vessels, including oil tankers near Venezuela, which Iran and Venezuela have labeled as piracy, reflecting the broader geopolitical conflict and complex maritime legal disputes in these regions.