Iran Seizes Tanker for Fuel Smuggling

Iranian authorities have intercepted a foreign-flagged tanker in the Gulf of Oman, accusing it of smuggling about 2 million liters of fuel, according to the judiciary of Hormozgan province.

The vessel was seized after routine maritime surveillance revealed incomplete documentation related to its cargo.

The operation forms part of ongoing efforts by Iran to curb widespread fuel smuggling across its borders, both by land and sea, driven by the country’s heavily subsidized fuel prices, which remain among the lowest globally.

Seventeen individuals, including the ship's captain and crew, have been detained. Authorities have not disclosed the vessel’s name, flag, or the nationalities of those arrested. A judicial case has been opened by the prosecutor’s office in Jask County.

Officials emphasized that actions coordinated with foreign actors to traffic fuel and exploit national resources would face serious legal consequences.

Iran has a history of seizing vessels involved in illicit fuel transport. In April, two Tanzanian-flagged tankers were taken by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps over similar allegations, and in November, an oil tanker registered under the Marshall Islands flag was also detained.

The confiscated fuel in past incidents has been redirected to Iran’s domestic supply chain, under the supervision of the National Iranian Oil Products Refining and Distribution Company.