Iran says it has seized two foreign tankers for fuel smuggling

On Friday, September 15, Iranian state television announced that the country had seized two foreign oil tankers and arrested its crew. The latter were smuggling fuel into the Gulf, according to Iranian authorities.

An Iranian ship sails in the Persian Gulf, April 29, 2023 (Illustration image). © ATTA KENARE / AFP

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Revolutionary Guard naval forces have seized two ships over the past two days. This was reported by Iranian state television, quoting Admiral Mohammad-Sharif Shirali, a local commander of the Islamic Republic's ideological army.

According to the admiral, the ships, named Steven and Crown, flew the flags of Panama and Tanzania and carried more than 1.5 million liters of Iranian oil and gas. After intercepting the two tankers, Iran also arrested the crew members. "Thirty-seven crew members have been handed over to judicial authorities at the port of Mahshahr," in the southwest of the country, Shirali said.

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With professional demeanor and a firm warning to all foreign elements present in the area, the Guards fighters drove the confiscated vessels to the port of Mahshahr. " he then added.

Iran's boat seizures recurrent according to the United States

In recent weeks, the US military has stepped up its presence in the Persian Gulf, alleging that Iran is trying to seize ships in this strategic sea route for global trade.

On July 6, according to the U.S. military, Iran seized a commercial vessel in the Persian Sea, a day after the U.S. accused Iranian forces of carrying out two similar attempts off the coast of Oman. In response, Tehran justified that the intercepted vessel was carrying "more than a million liters of smuggled fuel."

(

With AFP)

See alsoThousands of US soldiers in the Red Sea to deter Iran from seizing oil tankers

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  • Iran
  • United States
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  • Petroleum
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