Iran Seizes Oil Tanker in Gulf of Oman; 18 Crew Members on Board Include Indians

Tehran: Iranian authorities have seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman carrying 6 million litres of diesel fuel, with 18 crew members onboard, including personnel from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, Iranian media reported on Saturday.

According to the semi-official Fars News Agency, the tanker, reportedly transporting fuel illegally, had shut down all navigation systems prior to being intercepted near the coast of Hormozgan province. Iranian officials said the vessel was attempting to evade detection before being detained.

Tehran’s Ongoing Crackdown

Iran regularly targets vessels it suspects of illegal fuel transport in the region, citing its low domestic fuel prices as an incentive for smuggling to neighbouring markets. Last month, Iranian authorities seized another tanker, alleging it was carrying an illicit cargo, though Tehran denied any retaliatory motive against foreign nations.

Iran has a history of seizing commercial vessels in strategic waterways. In November, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, Talara, was detained in the Strait of Hormuz while en route to Singapore with petrochemical products, under a court order.

US-Iran Context

The latest seizure comes two days after the United States detained a tanker off Venezuela, citing links to Iran-backed Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Iran’s IRGC and Hezbollah networks, targeting their alleged involvement in restricted oil trading.

This incident highlights ongoing tensions in the Gulf of Oman and the risks faced by commercial shipping in the region, with geopolitical and strategic implications for international maritime trade.