A tanker intercepted in the Strait of Hormuz has changed course for Iran’s Bandar Abbas port after initially listing the UAE’s Jebel Ali as its destination, Fars News Agency reported on August 19.  

The media outlet, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, did not mention why the vessel sailed toward the Iranian port.

The UAE has not commented on the report.

Iranian state television reported two days ago that the tanker had been stopped in the northern part of the Strait of Hormuz near Qeshm Island for “violating Iranian maritime rules,” including refusing to use the route designated by Iran and failing to pay service fees. It did not name the vessel, its cargo or crew.

The Maritime Executive said it was the first time Iran had explicitly cited failure to pay service fees as a reason for stopping a vessel.

Maritime intelligence firm Windward identified the vessel as the Liberia-flagged oil product tanker Amara, which was empty and travelling from Singapore to Jebel Ali. It said the ship made a sharp deviation from its course on August 17 about five nautical miles southeast of Qeshm Island.

Windward said unconfirmed reports indicated that people had boarded the vessel in connection with a dispute over compliance with the transit corridor and payment of fees.

The latest development comes amid heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass.

The UAE Foreign Ministry last week strongly condemned attacks by Iran on vessels.

The UAE on August 18 said it was suspending all commercial activities, exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice.