Iran seized the Panamanian-flagged tanker Niovi in the Strait of Hormuz today, the US Navy said, noting that it was the second such incident in a week.

The Niovi, which was en route to the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, was surrounded by Revolutionary Guard naval vessels that forced it to turn around and head into Iranian territorial waters, the US 5th Fleet based in Bahrain.

See the relevant map

The tanker, according to data from Lloyd's List Intelligence, is connected to the Altomare shipping company of Greek interests, while according to the first information from the Ministry of Shipping, the ship has a Greek captain.

It should be noted that the seizure of the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Advantage Sweet in the Gulf of Oman was preceded on Thursday.

International press reports link these two Iranian moves with the decision of US authorities to demand that the tanker Suez Rajan, which US authorities claim is involved in the illegal transport of Iranian oil, be headed to the US.

The bodies of four fishermen have so far been retrieved from the capsized Turkish fishing boat that collided with the Greek-flagged tanker "EPHESOS" on Wednesday, in waters off the coast of the Turkish city of Mersin in Adana. The rescue operation by the Turkish authorities was continuing in order to find out if there are others trapped inside the fishing boat.

The Greek ship Minerva Virgo, owned by Andreas Martinis, was attacked by pirates on Thursday afternoon in the sea area between Nigeria and Benin.