A tanker carrying six million litres of diesel was seized by Iranian forces off the coast of the Gulf of Oman, according to a state media report in Iran. The vessel had reportedly deactivated its navigation systems before being intercepted, according to an official from Hormozgan province. Eighteen crew members, of Indian, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi nationality, were on board the ship at the time of the operation.
Iranian authorities justified the interception by claiming the vessel was engaged in fuel smuggling, a practice frequently reported in the Gulf region. Iran’s domestic fuel prices are among the lowest in the world, making illegal resale to neighbouring countries a lucrative activity. Seizures of ships carrying unauthorised cargo have become common, amid increased monitoring of maritime traffic in Iranian waters.
Series of maritime incidents in the Gulf
This latest incident comes a few weeks after Iranian forces seized another tanker in the Gulf waters for similar reasons. On that occasion, Tehran denied any political motivation or retaliation against a third country. The growing number of such control operations forms part of a broader strategy to combat the trafficking of subsidised fuel, while reaffirming Iran’s security presence in the region’s strategic waters.
Two days before this seizure, US authorities intercepted another tanker, the Skipper, off the coast of Venezuela. According to Washington, the ship was transporting oil originating from Venezuela and Iran and has been under sanctions since 2022 due to alleged links with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah.
Regional tensions over oil trafficking
The Gulf of Oman, a strategic maritime corridor between the Strait of Hormuz and the Indian Ocean, remains a key logistical zone for hydrocarbon trade. The rise in seizures reflects escalating geopolitical tensions, as multiple regional actors compete over control of energy shipping routes.
Iranian authorities did not specify the exact origin of the fuel or the intended destination of the intercepted vessel. No details were released regarding the detention conditions of the crew or potential legal proceedings.
