Iran says it seized oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz for violating rules

WASHINGTON, United States — Iran's state television said on Monday evening that an oil tanker was seized in the Strait of Hormuz for moving in violation of established rules, without naming the vessel or its flag state. The announcement followed Iranian statements that it had given Washington a limited window to implement a nuclear memorandum of understanding and would not wait if the United States kept its maritime blockade in place. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the two sides' memorandum does not include a 60-day timeline, adding that Tehran rejects any time pressure and will act in line with national interests. He did not elaborate on what prompted the seizure or whether the vessel's crew had been detained. The standoff between Tehran and Washington extends beyond the tanker incident, encompassing Iran's nuclear program, U.S. sanctions, navigation security in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's wider regional role and military capacity. The U.S. administration is reportedly preparing fresh economic sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on Iran's leadership and pushing it back to negotiations under tougher terms. No further details on the tanker, its origin or the legal basis for the seizure were immediately provided by Iranian authorities.