Iran says it has redirected a US-sanctioned oil tanker carrying Iranian oil back to its shores, though it was unclear from its statement why it had been targeted, AFP reports.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s navy, through a specially planned operation in the Sea of Oman, seized the offending tanker Ocean Koi,” the army said in a statement carried by state television, adding that the oil belonged to the “Islamic Republic”.

It said the ship was redirected to Iran’s southern shores after it sought “to damage and disrupt Iran’s oil exports,” without elaborating.