suspected of carrying smuggled fuel, state media reported Sunday, marking Iran’s third
seizure of a commercial vessel in recent weeks and the latest show of strength by the
paramilitary force amid a spike in regional tensions.
Full Coverage: Persian Gulf tensions
State TV and the semi-official Fars news agency reported that seven crew members
were detained when the ship was seized late Wednesday carrying 700,000 liters of
“smuggled fuel” from Iran. The local reports did not provide further details on the vessel
or the nationality of the crew.
were detained when the ship was seized late Wednesday carrying 700,000 liters of
“smuggled fuel” from Iran. The local reports did not provide further details on the vessel
or the nationality of the crew.
The news agency reported that the ship was seized near Farsi Island, where an Iranian
Guard Navy base is located. The island sits in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia
and Iran, north of the Strait of Hormuz.
Guard Navy base is located. The island sits in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia
and Iran, north of the Strait of Hormuz.
“This foreign vessel had received the fuel from other ships and was transferring it to
Persian Gulf Arab states,” Fars quoted Gen. Ramazan Zirahi, a Guard commander, as
saying.
Persian Gulf Arab states,” Fars quoted Gen. Ramazan Zirahi, a Guard commander, as
saying.
This would mark the third vessel seized by the Guard in the past two weeks, and the
second accused of smuggling fuel.
second accused of smuggling fuel.
The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, said it did not have information to confirm the
reports. Maritime tracking experts also said they did not have any immediate information
about the incident or the vessel.
reports. Maritime tracking experts also said they did not have any immediate information
about the incident or the vessel.
Illegal fuel smuggling out of Iran is a concern of authorities there. Iranian media reported
last month that some 8 million liters of government-subsidized Iranian fuel are smuggled
daily through Iran’s borders to other countries where prices are much higher.
last month that some 8 million liters of government-subsidized Iranian fuel are smuggled
daily through Iran’s borders to other countries where prices are much higher.
Tensions have soared around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping waterway that
lies between Iran and Oman. The U.S. has boosted its military presence in the region and
six oil tankers have been targeted in the Gulf of Oman in unclaimed acts of sabotage that
the U.S. blames on Iran. Iran has denied any involvement in those attacks. READ MORE
lies between Iran and Oman. The U.S. has boosted its military presence in the region and
six oil tankers have been targeted in the Gulf of Oman in unclaimed acts of sabotage that
the U.S. blames on Iran. Iran has denied any involvement in those attacks. READ MORE
