Saudi coast guard arrests 21 Iranians near al-Harqus island

Saudi Arabia has arrested 21 Iranian nationals who were on board two boats near an island off its eastern coast, the Saudi border guard says.

A kingdom’s border guard statement said the Iranians were detained near al-Harqus island, 78 km off the Saudi coast on Wednesday.

The Saudi coast guard added that the Iranian detainees are currently being questioned. It has provided no further details about the incident.

It is not uncommon for fishermen to stray into other nations’ territorial waters due to the tide and contiguity of sea borders in the Persian Gulf.