Iran Seizes Foreign Tanker Over 2 Million Liters Fuel Smuggling in Gulf of Oman

Iran has seized a foreign oil tanker in the Sea of Oman on suspicion of smuggling approximately 2 million liters of fuel after authorities found its cargo's legal documentation to be incomplete, according to multiple reports. The seizure occurred near Iran's maritime borders in Hormozgan province, a key region linking the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. Seventeen crew members, including the captain, were arrested and are undergoing judicial proceedings at the Jask county prosecutor's office. Fuel smuggling is a persistent issue in Iran, exacerbated by heavily subsidized domestic fuel prices that encourage illegal export to neighboring countries. This action is part of Iran's broader efforts to combat fuel smuggling and assert control over strategic maritime routes, amid ongoing economic pressures including U.S. sanctions and strikes on Iranian facilities. Details about the tanker's name, nationality, and destination have not been disclosed.