Iranian authorities have confiscated a foreign oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman for allegedly smuggling approximately two million litres of fuel, according to Iran&rsquo;s judiciary-run Mizan news agency.
The vessel was seized after it failed to produce legal documentation during a routine inspection. Chief Justice of Hormozgan Province, Mojtaba Qahremani, confirmed the operation but did not disclose the date of the seizure or the nationality of the vessel and its 17 detained crew members.
A formal case has been filed, and investigations are ongoing.
The seizure follows Iran&rsquo;s continued crackdown on fuel smuggling. On June 1, the Iranian Intelligence Ministry announced it had dismantled 35 organised smuggling networks operating across Hormozgan, Tehran, and Alborz. These networks were reportedly responsible for trafficking fuel worth $1.82 billion. Over 700 bank accounts linked to the illicit trade were frozen.
Additionally, in April, Iran&rsquo;s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy seized two vessels carrying 1.5 million litres of smuggled fuel.
Iran&rsquo;s heavily subsidised fuel prices make it a hotspot for international smuggling. Iranian naval forces have routinely intercepted such operations in recent years.
[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]

Iran Seizes Oil Tanker Over Fuel Smuggling

Tehran detains foreign tanker in the Gulf of Oman over smuggling of 2 million litres of fuel

Iran Seizes Oil Tanker Over Fuel Smuggling

Tehran detains foreign tanker in the Gulf of Oman over smuggling of 2 million litres of fuel

July 16, 2025 | 23:24 IST