Somali Pirates Seize Iran-Linked Oil Tanker in Surprise Attack
An oil tanker under U.S. sanctions for allegedly transporting Iranian petroleum products has been seized by Somali pirates, marking the latest in a surge of attacks off the coast of Somalia.
The Eritrea-flagged Sibu 1 was boarded by six armed individuals on Thursday and diverted toward Somalia, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
This is at least the 13th vessel attacked this year in the region, with only five such incidents reported in all of 2025, according to data from the International Maritime Bureau.
The seizure has raised concerns that Somali piracy, which was largely suppressed by a coordinated international security response, may be re-emerging due to poor economic and security conditions in Somalia.
Experts point to the Iran war as a contributing factor, citing elevated oil prices and the diversion of naval assets from piracy to dealing with threats from Iran and its Houthi allies in Yemen.
Jay Bahadur, a researcher and co-director of the Scopus Insights consultancy, said that while the seizure of an Iran-linked vessel like Sibu 1 makes him skeptical of Houthi links to recent hijackings, it is clear that Somali pirates are receiving support from Yemeni nationals, including arms trafficking networks.