persian gulf

The seizure of data from the former leader of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan is part of a probe that has ensnared a former ambassador who pleaded guilty to charges of illegal foreign lobbying.

The ship's owner said holes were left in the vessel's hull but that no crew members were injured.

The move is likely to increase tensions during President Trump's final weeks in office. Separately, Iran seized a South Korean oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, South Korea said Monday.

The contingent was organized by Washington following attacks in June on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz that it blames on Iran. Britain, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have also joined.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Canberra would commit a frigate, patrol plane and specialist defense force personnel to the security flotilla escorting commercial shipping from Iranian attacks.

The unidentified vessel was reportedly taken last Wednesday near Farsi Island, where Iran maintains a naval base. Iraq's oil ministry has denied it has any connection with the ship.

Iran took over the British-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday and says it and its crew will remain in an Iranian port during a probe of an accident that Iran says led to the seizure.

Iran alleges that the small tanker was smuggling some 264,000 gallons of fuel. The vessel reportedly was seized south of Larak Island, less than 20 miles off the Iranian mainland

It's the most recent flare-up in a series of long-running tensions between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. This time, analysts say, there will be no easy or quick resolution.

A businessman will charter some 60 Qatar Airlines flights for the bovines. He aims to jump-start a dairy industry in Qatar, which risks food shortages amid a blockade from its Gulf Arab neighbors.