Did the Maersk Tigris transport the S-300 System to Iran?

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Did the Maersk Tigris transport the S-300 System to Iran? (MFS).

As i said before it bothers me that Iran went all this length stopping the vessel in international waters, and then suddenly out of the blue release the vessel without payment.

#MaerskTigris managed by Rickmers Trust, who have told #LloydsList vessel was in international waters when captured

— David Osler (@finance_LL) April 28, 2015

On 03 April the Maersk Tigris was in the Russian Black sea port of Novorossiysk, It stayed three days in that port.

The Maersk Tigris is not owned by the Danish shipping giant. Maersk had chartered the vessel, which is owned by Singapore’s Rickmer Shipmanagement.


Iranian defense minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehghan left Tehran to Moscow on April 15 Th to sign a deal for receiving Russian-made S-300 missiles.


The Maers Tigriss was taken to the port Bandar Abbas.

Iran's official news agency IRNA reports that the seizure of the Maersk Tigris was because of an outstanding warrant by an Iranian court against the Maersk shipping lines.

IRNA said the warrant was issued after a private Iranian company had filed a claim that Maersk owed money to the company.

The explanation offered by IRNA creates more questions than answers.

The IRGC Navy is sent to intercept and seize a cargo ship at the Strait of Hormuz to enforce a civil law suit by an private company in Iran against a shipping giant during a tense period in the region. Highly unusual, indeed!

According to the Navigation and Ports Organization public relations bureau, the decree was issued upon a complaint lodged by a private company named 'Pars-Talaeeyeh Oil Products Company' manager Hamid Reza Jahanian against MAERSK Shipping Line.

Hamid Reza Jahanian, the managing director of the company said May 6 that the ship and its cargo would be sold unless the Danish shipping company pays $10 million in losses that his company has suffered.

On April 28 Iranian forces boarded the ship after firing warning shots across the bridge and later took it to Bandar Abbas, the main port of Iran's navy, under escort by Iranian patrol boats.

Danish shipping company Maersk Line, which chartered the container ship from Rickmers Ship Management in Singapore, insisted it had no "special cargo" such as military equipment. 

Iran’s seizure clearly violates international law, and one might add, a branch of international law that is ordinarily well-respected, and quite fundamental for global commerce. Moreover, no maritime lien gives Iran any authority to detain the crew.

Given the flagrant breach of international law, there seems to be a surprising silence from the “international community” and proponents of global governance.

Another fact worth mentioning is that Vladislav Menshikov, the CEO of S-300 air defense systems manufacturer Almaz-Antei, said in August 2013 that Russia has dismantled and disposed the S-300 air defense missile systems originally intended for delivery to Iran and the fact is that Russia doesn't produce S-300 any more, updating the old agreement is a confusing issue and might imply delivering more advanced S-400 missile systems to Iran.

However, leaving the old agreement unchanged may mean that Russia wants to deliver the ready S-300 systems which is currently used by its own army to Iran.

Hmmm......This is speculation from my side, but the whole story bothers me, i have the gut feeling there's more to it. I can't help wondering what went on in that Iranian port?

@EjmAlrai I can't help but wonder if there's more going on then meet the eye? Was anything unloaded? pic.twitter.com/gxGqWFdZQR

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) May 7, 2015

Hmmm.......Iranian news agency implies Maerk Tigris released without payment.

Iranian news agency implies Maerk vessel released without payment. (IMRA).

Pars Tala'eyeh Oil Products Company officials hoped that the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization has received "sufficient assurances and a solemn promise" from Maersk Line company for guaranteed compensation of their financial losses as mentioned in the court ruling. Thu May 07, 2015 2:39 EXCLUSIVE: Maersk Tigris Freed, Leaves Iran's Waters http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13940217000656

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham announced on Thursday that the Marshall Islands-flagged ship that was seized by Iranian naval forces at a court order last week, was freed this morning and has left Iran's waters.

"Today the (Maersk Tigris) ship was released and it left the Iranian territorial waters," Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said.

She said all the ship crew members were fully safe and healthy when they left Iran's waters.

Meantime, Pars Tala'eyeh Oil Products Company officials hoped that the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization has received "sufficient assurances and a solemn promise" from Maersk Line company for guaranteed compensation of their financial losses as mentioned in the court ruling.

Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari had announced on Tuesday that Maersk Tigris will be freed after its owner, Maersk Line Shipping Co. pays compensation money to the Iranian company that had sued it.

"According to the court ruling issued in the case involving this ship, it will be released after paying the compensation money to the Islamic Republic of Iran," Sayyari said in an interview with the state-run TV.

His remarks came after Managing-Director of Pars Tala'eyeh Oil Products Company Hamidreza Jahanian said Maersk Tigris had been kept in custody because it owed $10mln to his company.

"Unfortunately, a number of containers sent by Pars Tala'eyeh Oil Products Company through the Maersk Line Shipping Co. were not delivered to the customer in Jebel Ali in 2003, which initiated financial disputes between us and Maersk Line Shipping Co. then," Jahanian told FNA on Saturday.

Since Maersk Line Shipping Co. had some differences with its representative in Iran, it refrained from delivering the goods to the customer and the efforts to pursue the case through the company proved futile, he added.

He said the losses incurred on Pars Tala'eyeh Oil Products Company in that case were estimated at $10mln, and Tala'eyeh Oil Products Company filed lawsuit on the restitution of the carried goods with an Iranian court and the court ruled in favor of the Iranian company.

Jahanian underlined that if Maersk Line Shipping Co. compensates for Pars Tala'eyeh Oil Products Company, the ship will be released, otherwise, the assets and properties on the ship and even the vessel itself will be put up to tender and will be sold to make up for the losses inflicted on the Iranian company.

#MaerskTigris managed by Rickmers Trust, who have told #LloydsList vessel was in international waters when captured

— David Osler (@finance_LL) April 28, 2015

The Iranian naval forces seized the trade vessel with all its crew in the Persian Gulf last week and immediately took it to Shaheed Bahonar Port in Southern Iran.

After informed sources told FNA that "the ship ... has been seized by the Iranian naval forces at the request of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization", Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization (IPMO) Deputy Chief Hadi Haqshenas explained that Maersk Tigris has been engaged in payment disputes with the Iranian Pars Tala'eyeh Oil Products Company for several years.

He said the Iranian company had "started litigation in recent years to sue Maersk Line Shipping Co.", adding that "after the court of appeal upheld the initial court ruling in the favor of the Iranian company, ordering Maersk Line Shipping Co. to make up for the financial losses of the plaintiff, the decree was sent to IPMO - which is in charge of maritime affairs according to the international laws and regulations - on March 15, 2015 to be put into effect".

"The IPMO then requested the operational forces to put the court ruling in action," Haqshenas continued.

Haqshenas's statements were later repeated in an official statement of the IPMO, where the organization underscored that the seizure was "purely the result of a legal case and not a military development in nature".

The statement also added that all the moves made with regard to the vessel, including the court proceedings and ruling, "fully comply with the international laws and maritime rules and regulations".

"The IPMO is no party of interest in this litigation by any means as it has never filed any complaint against the abovementioned (Maersk) company," the statement emphasized.

"Given the legal nature of the case and considering that the responsibility for the seized vessel falls under the judicial authority now, its release will only be possible through a judicial decree," it stressed.

The IPMO statement also reiterated that Maersk Co. has been fully briefed about the detailed measures adopted with regard to the vessel and the crew since its seizure in the Strait of Hormuz.

Maersk Co. confirmed last week that the crew is safe. Cor Radings, a spokesman for the ship’s operator, Rickmers Ship Management in Singapore, said the company had been in touch by phone with the crew earlier in the day.

'We have had the confirmation that they are in relatively good condition and safe on board the ship,' he said.

Radings identified the crew members as 'mainly from Eastern Europe and Asia.' He said the ship was owned by 'private investors' but would not elaborate.

Iranian sources had earlier stated that the crew members were from Britain, Bulgaria, Romania and Myanmar.

International law recognizes Iran that has the lengthiest coastline (more than 2,000km) on the rims of the Persian Gulf as to be in charge of security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

In Iran, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy is responsible for protecting security of territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, while the naval forces of the regular army are in charge of security in the Caspian Sea as well as missions in the high seas.

Hmmm.....Story becomes weirder,  i am still wondering was 'Something or Anything' unloaded in Iran.

Iran releases 'pirated' Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel Maersk Tigris.

Iran releases 'pirated' Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel Maersk Tigris. (Taz).

Iran has released a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel seized by Islamic Republic forces as it traversed the Strait of Hormuz last month.

An informed source in Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization has confirmed that the Islamic Republic has released Maersk ship on May 7, the country’s official IRNA news agency reported.
Iran says that the commercial ship was seized over a legal dispute between an Iranian company and the Danish shipping line Maersk.

It was earlier reported that an Iranian court ordered selling the ship in order to pay $10 million compensation to Iranian Pars Talaeyeh Oil Products Company.

Hamid Reza Jahanian, the managing director of the company said May 6 that the ship and its cargo would be sold unless the Danish shipping company pays $10 million in losses that his company has suffered.

On April 28 Iranian forces boarded the ship after firing warning shots across the bridge and later took it to Bandar Abbas, the main port of Iran's navy, under escort by Iranian patrol boats.

Danish shipping company Maersk Line, which chartered the container ship from Rickmers Ship Management in Singapore, insisted it had no "special cargo" such as military equipment.

Maersk Line spokesman Michael Storgaard said May 6 that the company had a "constructive dialogue with the Iranian courts" and was working toward "the safe release of the crew and vessel".


Following the Maersk incident, Washington adopted a policy change, allowing any US-flagged ship to be accompanied by US Navy warships through the Hormuz strait, which includes Iranian territorial waters. Hmmm.........

@EjmAlrai I can't help but wonder if there's more going on then meet the eye? Was anything unloaded? pic.twitter.com/gxGqWFdZQR

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) May 7, 2015

Obama's New BFF Iran’s legal claims for seizing the Maersk Tigris is paper thin.

Obama's New BFF Iran’s legal claims for seizing the Maersk Tigris is paper thin. (Wapo).By Eugene Kontorovich.
Iran’s seizure of the Marshall Islands’ flagged Maersk Tigris cargo ship has lead to important discussions about the United States’ legal responsibilities to respond, under treaties with its one-time trust territory and current protectorate.

But first one must address the legality of Iran’s arrest of the vessel. The Islamic Republic makes a very legalistic case for the detention, arguing it results from a decade-old Iranian court judgement against Maersk, the which chartered the vessel.

Maritime law in fact allows nations to arrest foreign vessels for certain kind of claims, or maritime liens, and the cargo dispute between Iran and Maersk qualifies. However, the arrest of ships engaged in innocent transit is limited under the United Convention of the Law of the Sea, and general custom, to a limited set of claims involving the vessel itself. As UNCLOS Art. 28 states:

The coastal State may not levy execution against or arrest the ship for the purpose of any civil proceedings, save only in respect of obligations or liabilities assumed or incurred by the ship itself in the course or for the purpose of its voyage through the waters of the coastal State.

This reflects the in rem nature of admiralty and maritime proceedings. In short, there is simply no basis under UNCLOS for arresting a ship for any debts incurred during prior voyages, and certainly not for those incurred by other ships.

The discussion of sister ships is quite arcane, and ultimately besides the point. The arrest of vessels applies typically to those that have come into port. There is no right to arrest for prior or collateral obligations during an innocent passage through territorial waters. That is, in waters where ships have an international right to transit – such as the Gulf – they may not be molested at all by coastal states for the enforcement of outstanding maritime liens.

Thus the ownership of ships, the scope of the sister ship/associated ship doctrine, and so forth are entirely besides the point. Iran’s seizure clearly violates international law, and one might add, a branch of international law that is ordinarily well-respected, and quite fundamental for global commerce. Moreover, no maritime lien gives Iran any authority to detain the crew.

Given the flagrant breach of international law, there seems to be a surprising silence from the “international community” and proponents of global governance. Read the full story here. Hmmm........And then there's this:

#MaerskTigris managed by Rickmers Trust, who have told #LloydsList vessel was in international waters when captured

— David Osler (@finance_LL) April 28, 2015

Related: Maersk Meets Iran Officials over Seizure of Vessel in International waters.

Maersk Meets Iran Officials over Seizure of Vessel in International waters.

Maersk Meets Iran Officials over pirate Seizure of Vessel in International waters. (UOI).

Maersk Line said on Monday it had met with Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) regarding the seizure of the vessel Maersk Tigris but has yet to receive any official documents from Iranian authorities.

“We have yet to receive any written notifications, court ruling, arrest order or similar, pertaining to the seizure of Maersk Tigris or the cargo case,” Maersk said in a written statement. (Reuters, 4 May)

Iran has said the seizure of the vessel at he Strait of Hormuz by the IRGC Navy concerns a years-old case over uncollected cargo and an unpaid bill. Iran took the unusual step of seizing the vessel at sea and forcing it to sail to an Iranian port. For safety reasons, commercial ships involved in legal disputes are arrested while already docked at a port.

The Maersk Tigris is not owned by the Danish shipping giant. Maersk had chartered the vessel, which is owned by Singapore’s Rickmer Shipmanagement.

Maersk called again for the crew and the vessel to be released immediately.

#MaerskTigris managed by Rickmers Trust, who have told #LloydsList vessel was in international waters when captured
— David Osler (@finance_LL) April 28, 2015

Iran: "No need for US navy in Strait of Hormuz, they better protect Gulf of Aden".

Iran: "No need for US navy in Strait of Hormuz, they better protect Gulf of Aden". (Taz).

The Iranian navy ensures security of Strait of Hormuz, as well as Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf, the Islamic Republic’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said.

So there is no need for US navy to escort their ships in the region, he added.

The Persian Gulf is completely secure, meanwhile Gulf of Aden and the Bab-el-Mandeb lacks security and US navy is better to escort their ships there, the Iranian commander said, ISNA news agency reported May 3.

The US Navy accompanied four American-flagged ships and a British vessel moving through the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Gulf on April 30, and officials said the US will render assistance to any other nation concerned about interference from Iranian vessels.

The policy was adopted after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps naval vessels reportedly fired warning shots near a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship earlier this week and have detained it and its crew.

Iran says it intervened with the Maersk Tigris because the Maersk shipping line owes it money awarded in a lawsuit. (Hmmmm....In International waters?)

#MaerskTigris managed by Rickmers Trust, who have told #LloydsList vessel was in international waters when captured

— David Osler (@finance_LL) April 28, 2015

Sayyari also touched upon the issue and called the cargo ship’s detention “completely legal.”

He further said that the Iranian navy seeks to increase accuracy and range of its missiles.


The Iranian commander also said that the Islamic Republic’s navy was currently covering an area 1.3 times bigger than the country's one, adding that naval defense is a matter of concern and importance in today’s world and progressing on the sea means progressing in defense arena.

Iran Denies Report that Seized Ship, Maersk Tigris was released.

Iran Denies Report that Seized Ship, Maersk Tigris was released. (IMRA).

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization announced on Wednesday that the Marshall Islands-flagged trade ship that Iranian naval forces seized in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday is still in custody upon a court order, rejecting an Arab media report that the vessel has been freed.

"Despite some claims about the status of the seized ship, the vessel, Maersk Tigris, is still in custody," IPMO Deputy Chief Hadi Haqshenas told FNA on Wednesday, rejecting two Al-Jazeera urgent news reports on Tuesday night and Wednesday alleging that the Marshall Islands-flagged ship has been freed by Iran to continue its voyage.

"The ship is still held in Shaheed Bahonar Port and the report about its release is hereby denied," the official reiterated.

The Iranian naval forces seized the trade vessel with all its 34 crew yesterday and immediately took it to Shaheed Bahonar Port in Southern Iran.

After informed sources told FNA last night that "the ship ... has been seized by the Iranian naval forces at the request of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization", Haqshenas explained in his today remarks that Maersk Tigris has been engaged in payment disputes with the Iranian "Pars Tala'eyeh Oil Products Company" for several years.

He said the Iranian company had "started litigation in recent years to sue Maersk Line Shipping Co.", adding that "after the court of appeal upheld the initial court ruling in the favor of the Iranian company, ordering Maersk Line Shipping Co. to make up for the financial losses of the plaintiff, the decree was sent to Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization - which is in charge of maritime affairs according to the international laws and regulations - on March 15, 2015 to be put into effect".

"The IPMO then requested the operational forces to put the court ruling in action," Haqshenas continued.

Haqshenas's statements were later today repeated in an official statement of the IPMO, where the organization underscored that the seizure was "purely the result of a legal case and not a military development in nature".

The statement also added that all the moves made with regard to the vessel, including the court proceedings and ruling, "fully comply with the international laws and maritime rules and regulations".

"The IPMO is no party of interest in this litigation by any means as it has never filed any complaint against the abovementioned (Maersk) company," the statement emphasized.

"Given the legal nature of the case and considering that the responsibility for the seized vessel falls under the judicial authority now, its release will only be possible through a judicial decree," it stressed.

The IPMO statement also reiterated that Maersk Co. has been fully briefed about the detailed measures adopted with regard to the vessel and the crew since its seizure in the Strait of Hormuz yesterday.

Later today, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham also made similar remarks, stressing the legal nature of the seizure.

She also underlined that the crew are "fully sound and healthy" and "have been provided with full consular access".

Maersk Co. confirmed on Wednesday that the crew is safe. Cor Radings, a spokesman for the ship's operator, Rickmers Ship Management in Singapore, said the company had been in touch by phone with the crew earlier in the day.

'We have had the confirmation that they are in relatively good condition and safe on board the ship,' he said.

Radings identified the crew members as 'mainly from Eastern Europe and Asia.' He said the ship was owned by 'private investors' but would not elaborate.

Iranian sources had earlier stated that the crew members were from Britain, Bulgaria, Romania and Myanmar.

International law recognizes Iran that has the lengthiest coastline (more than 2,000km) on the rims of the Persian Gulf as to be in charge of security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

In Iran, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy is responsible for protecting security of territorial waters in the Persian Gulf, while the naval forces of the regular army are in charge of security in the Caspian Sea as well as missions in the high seas.

Russian Confirmed as Captain's Mate on #MaerskTigris Cargo Ship Detained in #Iran @20committee @MaxAbrahms http://t.co/TMfFLSYO2f

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) May 1, 2015

'Pirates of the Persian Gulf' Iran Deploying Additional UAVs along the Coast.

'Pirates of the Persian Gulf' Iran Deploying Additional UAVs along the Coast. (Bellingcat).

Iran’s southern coastline remains an important deployment location for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Satellite imagery from DigitalGlobe shows a probable Mohajer-4 UAV attached to a pneumatic rail launcher on the side of an unmarked airstrip located near a naval base at Konarak. The airstrip is located on the coast of Iran’s southeast-most province of Sistan and Baluchistan. Support vehicles and the associated ground control station were parked nearby.

Located in an ideal position to monitor shipping near Chahbahar, the UAVs may support the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy base less than 5 miles to the southeast. Various fast attack craft and Iranian auxiliary vessels are based at this facility.

According to satellite imagery, Iran’s German-built Bander Abbas and Pakistan-built Delvar class boats have been consistently deployed to the base. Iran’s Ghadir coastal submarines, an export version of North Korea’s Yono class, have also made an appearance during naval exercises. In December 2011, up to six were deployed from Bander Abbas for Velayat-90, a 10-day military exercise in international waters spanning the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.

Last June, Admiral Habibollah Sayyari called the southern coast stretch along the Sea of Oman the country’s “Golden Gate”. Read the full story here.Hmmmm...........'Pirates of the Persian Gulf'.......yesterday:

SOURCE

Iranian Foreign Min: "Iran committed to navigation freedom in Persian Gulf."

Pirates of the Persian Gulf Iran committed to navigation freedom in Persian Gulf — minister. (Taz).

Iran will not take steps to hamper free navigation in the Persian Gulf, the country's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Apr.29, according to TASS.

"The Persian Gulf is our lifeline ... We will respect international navigation," Zarif said speaking at New York University.

The minister said that "freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf is a must" for the Islamic Republic.

On April 28, Iran detained in the Strait of Hormuz the Marshall Islands-flagged Maersk Tigris container ship belonging to the Danish shipping company Maersk.


Zarif said the ship's seizure had "nothing to do with politics" and was strictly a legal case.

Iran denies releasing pirated Maersk's ship

.@CBSDavidMartin "Pentagon lawyers have determined..US has no obligation to come to the defense of a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel at sea"
— Major Garrett (@MajorCBS) April 28, 2015

Iran denies releasing pirated  Maersk's ship. (Taz).

Iran denied releasing the seized ship belongs to the Maersk Line cargo an hour after Al-Jazeera quoted Iranian sources as saying that Tehran had released the ship and that none of the crew members were detained.

Fars News Agency quoted the Maritime Deputy Director of Iran’s Ports and Sailing Organization Hadi Haqshenas April 29 as saying the seized ship is still under arrest.

A Maersk Line cargo ship seized in the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Republic was because of some unpaid debt. Maersk Line owes some money to an Iranian company and the court has ruled that Maersk should pay the debt, he said.

Maersk Line is the global container division and the largest operating unit of the A.P. Moller – Maersk Group, a Danish business conglomerate. It is world's largest container shipping company having customers through 374 offices in 116 countries.

On April 28 Iranian patrol vessels fired warning shots and ordered the ship to sail further into Iranian waters when the ship was passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Shippingwatch.

At first, Maersk Tigris ignored the order, but after the warning shots it obeyed. The ship is registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

Haqshenas said a complaint by an Iranian company resulted in a court ruling on March 16 which demanded the debt be paid.

The arrest was carried out by the Coast Guard and authorized by Iran’s Joint Staff of Armed Forces. Hmmmm...........

UPDATE:  Iran says Maersk ship arrested ‘for debt’

Iran's official news agency IRNA reports that the seizure of the Maersk Tigris was because of an outstanding warrant by an Iranian court against the Maersk shipping lines.

IRNA said the warrant was issued after a private Iranian company had filed a claim that Maersk owed money to the company.

The explanation offered by IRNA creates more questions than answers.

The IRGC Navy is sent to intercept and seize a cargo ship at the Strait of Hormuz to enforce a civil law suit by an private company in Iran against a shipping giant during a tense period in the region. Highly unusual, indeed! 

According to the Navigation and Ports Organization public relations bureau, the decree was issued upon a complaint lodged by a private company named 'Pars-Talaeeyeh Oil Products Company' manager Hamid Reza Jahanian against MAERSK Shipping Line.

The case passed its legal proceedings and finally MAERSK was sentenced to pay financial damages.

In the framework of international and domestic law and regulations the court ruling was notified to the organization, as the national governing body for marine affairs and was implemented by the coastguards.

The organization underlined that the issue is merely a legal case and has nothing to do with political issues. The Navigation and Ports Organization said that the lawsuit is being administered by the Judiciary.

@EjmAlrai 100% Agree, this is not the end, but the beginning of a world 'OIL & Goods' hostage situation #MaerskTigris pic.twitter.com/W7GwutPfHO
— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) April 29, 2015

#MaerskTigris managed by Rickmers Trust, who have told #LloydsList vessel was in international waters when captured
— David Osler (@finance_LL) April 28, 2015

Marshall Islands-flagged vessel Seized by Obama's BFF Iran their Warships.

Marshall Islands-flagged vessel Seized by Obama's BFF Iran their Warships. (Taz).

Iran Revolutionary Guard patrol boats fired shots at a commercial cargo ship and then intercepted the vessel, the M/V Maersk Tigris, which was crossing the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday morning, according to a senior U.S. military official.

Despite reports in some media, there are no Americans on board, the official said.

Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren said it was "inappropriate" for the Iranians to fire the warning shot. The U.S. Navy has dispatched one maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to observe and monitor the situation, Warren told reporters.

The ship, a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, was transiting the Strait into the Persian Gulf on an internationally recognized maritime route when the the Iranian military contacted the vessel and directed the ship master to "divert further into Iranian waters," according to Warren.

"The master was contacted and directed to proceed further into Iranian territorial waters. He declined and one of the IRGCN craft fired shots across the bridge of the Maersk Tigris," said Warren, referring to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.

"The master complied with the Iranian demand and proceeded into Iranian waters in the vicinity of Larak Island."

After the shots were fired, the Tigris issued a distress call which was picked up by U.S. forces in the area and the USS Farragut was ordered to head towards the incident. The closest U.S. warship was 60 miles from the incident. The Pentagon thinks about 30 individuals are on board.

According to the shipping company, which is in contact with the U.S. military, the Iranian military has boarded the ship.

Even though the Strait of Hormuz is in Iranian territorial waters, "innocent passage" is applied -- ships are authorized to pass through the body of water assuming they abide by all the rules of the sea -- because it is an internationally recognized shipping lane.

Warren said it was "to be determined" what the USS Farragut will do when it reached the vicinity of the incident.

The M/V Maersk Tigris was seized at the request of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization (IPMO), Iran's semi-official FARS is reporting, citing informed sources. The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was seized after a relevant court order was issued according to the source, indicating that the IPMO had monetary differences with the ship owner.

It's significant that the vessel is from the Marshall Islands because of the Compact of Free Association between the U.S. and the Islands makes the U.S. responsible for its defense.

"The government of the United States has full authority and responsibility for security and defense matters in or relating to the Republic of the Marshall Islands," the treaty states.

Hmmm.....Appeasement does not work! Nice vessel and crew you got there, would be a shame if those sanctions don't get cancelled?

#MaerskTigris managed by Rickmers Trust, who have told #LloydsList vessel was in international waters when captured

— David Osler (@finance_LL) April 28, 2015

Update:

The Iranian authorities released a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship seized earlier. 

Hmmm....Anyone thinking this is the end, it's just the beginning of the end.

This naval act of #Iran is not directed to Maersk only but to all ships navigating in the Persian Gulf and #Aden. #Yemen #SaudiArabia.
— Elijah J. Magnier (@EjmAlrai) April 28, 2015

To keep shipping lanes free, we should offer more sanctions relief.

— Jonathan Schanzer (@JSchanzer) April 28, 2015