Dubai, July 17 -- Iran's state-run media is quoting the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying the Islamic Republic helped an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz amid U.S. concern that Tehran seized one there.

The state-run IRNA news agency early Wednesday quoted Abbas Mousavi as saying Iran towed an unnamed vessel to harbor after it suffered a technical malfunction.

However, both the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates, where the tanker is based, say that the vessel hasn't been in contact with its owner since its transponder turned off late Saturday night.

A U.S. defense official told The Associated Press that America "has suspicions" Iran seized the vessel amid tensions between Tehran and Washington over its unraveling nuclear d...