Iran’s judiciary has announced the seizure of a foreign tanker in the Sea of Oman on charges of fuel smuggling.
According to Mojtaba Ghahremani, head of the judiciary in southern Hormozgan province, the vessel was intercepted due to incomplete legal documents related to its cargo.
The tanker was allegedly carrying two million liters of smuggled fuel. Seventeen suspects, including the captain and crew, have been taken into custody.
However, the identity and nationality of those arrested have not been disclosed.
Authorities are conducting laboratory tests and reviewing documents to verify the cargo’s contents and legality.
The investigation aimed to determine the extent of the alleged smuggling operation and identify those responsible.
The seizure comes months after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards intercepted two Tanzanian-flagged tankers allegedly transporting 1.5 million liters of diesel in the Gulf.
The vessels, Sea Ranger and Salama, had 25 foreign crew members and were transferred to the port of Bushehr for legal proceedings.
Fuel smuggling is a recurring challenge in Iran, where heavy subsidies have kept domestic fuel prices among the lowest in the world.
This has created a lucrative black market for smuggled fuel, making it a significant concern for Iranian authorities.
The authorities are conducting laboratory tests and reviewing documents to verify the cargo’s contents and legality.
