Fishing boats and other craft are occasionally held for apparent violations of territorial limits in the Gulf, but the disputes are usually ended quickly. Saudi Arabia and Iran are main regional rivals and any conflicts have the potential to escalate.
The semiofficial Fars news agency reported today that nine fishermen from various nations were on the two vessels detained off Bushehr province. No other details were given. Fars quoted a Coast Guard commander, Qalandar Lashkari, as saying an investigation was underway.