Iranian forces seized a vessel 38 nautical miles off the coast of the United Arab Emirates near the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday morning, according to the British military. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the ship was boarded by unauthorized personnel and spotted heading toward Iranian territorial waters. The incident occurred as President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met in Beijing discussing key issues.
British authorities did not release details on the ship's ownership or who seized it, but the BBC reported that the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan was seized. The ship was reportedly operating as a floating armory to defend against pirates. At least two other ships have been seized in the Strait since February, including the MSC Francesca and Epaminondes by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in April.