A vessel anchored off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates has been seized by unidentified individuals and is believed to be heading toward Iranian territorial waters, the British military said on Thursday.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it received reports that the ship was boarded by unauthorized personnel while anchored about 38 nautical miles northeast of the UAE port of Fujairah, near the Strait of Hormuz.

UKMTO did not identify the vessel and said an investigation is underway. No group has claimed responsibility for the seizure.

The incident comes as US President Donald Trump is meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where discussions are expected to focus on the war involving Iran and its impact on global trade and the economy.

The seizure was reported hours after Israel said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had made a private visit to the UAE during the conflict, although Emirati authorities denied that any such visit took place.

The UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020. Iran has repeatedly criticized the agreement and has accused Israel of maintaining a military and intelligence presence in the Gulf state.

Fujairah is a key oil export terminal and the UAE’s main port outside the Persian Gulf. The area has faced repeated attacks during the conflict with Iran.

Iran has seized several vessels since the war began.

Last week, Iranian naval forces detained an oil tanker identified as the Ocean Koi, alleging it was involved in disrupting Iranian oil exports, according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.

Iranian authorities said the tanker was carrying Iranian oil in the Gulf of Oman when it was boarded and taken to Iran’s southern coast.

The United States imposed sanctions on the Ocean Koi in February, saying it was part of a “shadow fleet” used to transport Iranian oil.