Iranian Foreign Ministry claims that two Iranian fishermen were killed when a UAE ship opened fire on their boat • In Tehran, UAE representatives apologized for the incident and offered monetary compensation to the victims of the incident

• Iranians take over a ship of the United Arab Emirates // Photo: EPI

Less than a week after the declaration of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Iran today (Thursday) reveals a serious security incident between it and the United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf, one of the most tense shipping routes in the world. 

According to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, which was broadcast on state television, two Iranian fishermen were killed in the incident, which took place on Monday, after a UAE patrol boat opened fire on Iranian vessels. Subsequently, according to the Iranians, UAE soldiers confiscated the fishing boat. 

Photo: Reuters

The Iranians also said that their men had taken over a UAE vessel but did not specify whether it was the vessel that opened fire at the fishing boats or another vessel. The Iranians claimed to have captured the ship after it penetrated Iran's territorial waters. It is suspected that this is a merchant ship of the Emiruyo Thalia that the Iranians took over earlier this week. 

The Iranians claim that Abu Dhabi apologized for the shooting incident and offered to pay monetary compensation for the damage caused as a result of the incident. No official response from the UAE has been released. 

Meanwhile, Iran today denied that the United States had managed to confiscate four oil tankers and a large amount of crude oil that was on its way to Venezuela. The news, published in many media outlets on Sunday, claimed that the United States had managed to do so through a third country.