Iranian Forces Seize Honduras-Flagged Floating Armoury in Gulf of Oman

Iranian military personnel seized a vessel operating as a floating armoury in the Gulf of Oman, maritime risk management company Vanguard reported.

The ship is bound for Iranian territorial waters, the UK's Maritime Trade Operations said.

BBC Verify examined ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic, which showed the vessel—identified by Vanguard as the Honduras-flagged Hui Chuan—last broadcasting its location 70km (40 miles) northeast of Fujairah in the UAE on Wednesday.

Hui Chuan's operators told Vanguard the ship stored weapons for security firms that protect vessels from pirate attacks at sea.

BBC Verify could not confirm the ship's cargo or its users.

The BBC has reported that such vessels operate in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman to allow security guards to pick up and drop off weapons and ammunition.

Location data indicated the ship spent the past month off the northeast coasts of Oman and the UAE.

The seizure of Hui Chuan followed an attack on an Indian-flagged vessel off Oman's coast on Wednesday, Indian officials said.

Vanguard reported that the Haji Ali sank after a suspected drone or missile explosion.

All Indian crew members aboard are safe, and Indian authorities thanked Omani rescuers on Thursday.

MarineTraffic data showed the 57m (187ft) vessel departed Berbera Port in Somalia on May 6, bound for Sharjah in the UAE, according to the Indian shipping ministry.

The ship carried livestock when a fire broke out, forcing the crew to abandon it before it sank, Vanguard said.

Oman Coast Guard units transferred 14 crew members to Diba Port, Indian officials reported.

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the Strait of Hormuz situation during talks in Beijing on Thursday.

The White House said Xi made clear China's opposition to the strait’s militarization.