A Singapore-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf was reported to have been attacked by Iranian naval vessels on Thursday. According to U.S. officials, the attack on the tanker appears to be Iran's latest attempt to settle a legal dispute by force with passing commercial vessels.
The tanker, called the Alpine Eternity, was attacked at sea at 08:00 GMT while on its way the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah, according to Reuters. The attack prompted the ship to flee for its safety to UAE-controlled waters.
A spokesman for the Norwegian manager Transpetrol stated that the details of the incident remain unclear, according to Al Jazeera.
A U.S. official, who agreed to a statement on the condition of maintaining his anonymity, stated that about five Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy Ships intercepted the Alpine Eternity oil products tanker, Reuters reported.
Another U.S. official described the attack as "small arms fire."
The incident took place just as U.S. President Barack Obama and leaders from the Gulf nations were at a rare, high-profile summit at Camp David in Maryland. They were discussing U.S. efforts in brokering a nuclear deal with Iran.
Speaking during the summit, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir stated that the actions of the Iranian navy were a blatant violation of international law, Al Jazeera reported. He also emphasized that such behavior must immediately stop.
White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes agrees that the episode is a cause of concern regarding Iran's conduct.
"This is exactly the type of challenge that many of the (Gulf) partners are focused on," he said.
Iran recently seized a Marshall Islands-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the U.S. Navy to provide military security for U.S.-flagged commercial ships that are passing through the area.
Despite the attack, the Alpine Eternity tanker has safely reached its destination, as per a statement by the ship's manager.