New Delhi: A US-bound oil tanker, which had 24 Indian crew on board, was seized by the Iranian Navy off the coast of Oman, AFP reported.

The ship's operator, a Turkish firm called Advantage Tankers, told the news agency that the crew members taken under such circumstances are in "no danger".

"Similar experiences show that crew members of vessels taken under such circumstances are in no danger," it said, adding that the company was "in close touch with all the appropriate authorities to obtain the release of the crew and vessel".

The vessel was being taken to a port by Iran's Navy because of an "international dispute", the operator told AFP in a statement.

The report said that the tanker had crashed into one of the vessels of the Iranian Navy, leaving two of their crew members missing and injuring several others.

The US Navy has demanded the ship's immediate release, slamming Iran's "continued harassment" in Gulf waters.

“Iran’s actions are contrary to international law and disruptive to regional security and stability,” US Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet said in a statement. “Iran should immediately release the oil tanker.”

It identified the vessel as the Advantage Sweet. It was headed for Houston, Texas.

According to the Associated Press, the 5th Fleet said the Iranian seizure was at least the fifth commercial vessel taken by Tehran in the last two years.

The ship’s listed owner appeared to be a Chinese company, AP reported.

The seizure comes after the US, the UK and the European Union toughened sanctions against Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps on April 24, citing alleged human rights violations by Tehran.

Tensions have escalated since 2018 when then-US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from a multinational accord that froze Iran’s nuclear programme, and reimposed crippling sanctions on its economy.

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