Somali Pirates Reemerge, Hijack Iranian-Linked Oil Tanker

A Somali pirate attack has targeted an Iranian-linked oil tanker, marking the latest incident in a resurgence of piracy off the coast of Somalia. The Eritrea-flagged Sibu 1 was boarded and diverted to Somalia on Thursday by six armed men, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the tanker last December for allegedly being part of a 'shadow fleet' that helped Iranian petroleum products avoid U.S. sanctions.

This is at least the thirteenth vessel attacked near Somalia's coast in the past year, with only five such incidents reported in 2025, according to data from the International Maritime Bureau and UKMTO reports.

Experts say piracy can return due to poor economic and social conditions in Somalia. Timothy Walker, senior researcher at Pretoria's Institute for Security Studies, stated that 'the piracy has always been suppressed.' It was never fully eradicated.