LONDON — An Iranian warship
has captured a European-operated oil rig in the Gulf.
Diplomatic officials termed the action "extreme" and unprecedented.
Romania said the Iranian Navy attacked an oil rig operated by a Romanian
company in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates off the coast of Iran on Tuesday.
The rig, located near Kish island, was captured and at least 20
Romanians were detained.
"We are dealing with a commercial dispute that is being treated in an
extreme way by the Iranian authorities," said Sergiu Medar, a national security adviser to Romanian President Traian
Basescu.
Medar did not
elaborate, but officials said the Foreign Ministry planned to send a team to
the rig, operated by Oil Services Group in cooperation with the United Arab
Emirates.
Iran and the UAE have a territorial waters dispute.
