British maritime security firm Ambrey reported on Friday that it had received information about an incident occurring 20 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the UAE.
The agency described the situation as “suspicious activity” and said authorities were investigating it.
Shortly afterward, it revealed that a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker had been en route from Ajman toward Iranian territorial waters, heading to Singapore via the Strait of Hormuz, when three small boats approached it.
Ambrey added that the tanker abruptly veered off its course while transiting the Gulf of Oman and headed toward Iranian territorial waters.