The United States Navy on Wednesday opposed Iran’s seizure of two oil vessels in international waters off Oman, the US Navy’s Central Command (NAVCENT) said in a statement to AFP.

Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near OmanPhoto: US NAVY / UPI / Profimedia

Iranian forces opened fire on one of the tankers, which fled after the arrival of a U.S. Navy destroyer, NAVCENT said in a statement, which said the two tankers were flying the flags of the Marshall Islands and the Bahamas.

“At 01:00 local time, an Iranian vessel approached the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker TRF Moss in the international waters of the Gulf of Oman. The Iranian ship left the scene when the USS McFaul, a USS Navy destroyer, arrived on the scene,” NAVCENT clarified, explaining that it also deployed an MQ-9 Reaper drone and a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.

NAVCENT says the US Navy then received a distress call from the Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager after another Iranian vessel approached less than a mile away and ordered it to stop.

The USS McFaul was headed “full speed” toward the Richmond Voyager.

Before arriving on the scene, Iranian forces opened fire on the tanker several times, according to NAVCENT, without causing casualties or significant damage aboard the Richmond Voyager.