Iran Releases Oil Tanker Seized in 2024 Amid US Tensions

The St Nikolas tanker in 2023.
Photographer: DG/MarineTraffic

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Patrick Sykes, Weilun Soon, and Alex Longley

January 13, 2026 at 10:01 AM UTC

Updated on

January 13, 2026 at 3:26 PM UTC

An oil tanker seized by Iran two years ago was released, with satellite images showing the vessel off the coast of Oman, against a backdrop of mounting US pressure on the Persian Gulf state.

The St Nikolas — seized in January 2024 in retaliation for what Iran called at the time the US “theft” of Iranian oil — was released on Jan. 9, its managers Empire Navigation Inc. said in a statement. The ship arrived near Oman on Jan. 10, they said.