Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized a third oil tanker in just over a week, amid a broader crackdown on fuel smuggling in the Persian Gulf.
The latest vessel was intercepted by the IRGC Navy with six individuals arrested. Authorities reported the discovery of 100,000 liters of smuggled fuel on board. This follows an earlier operation on April 1, when the IRGC detained two foreign-registered vessels carrying over three million liters of smuggled diesel. All 25 crew members on those ships were also arrested.
These tankers, suspected of systematic fuel trafficking, were moved to the port of Bushehr under a judicial order.
Iran’s state media has emphasized that these operations are part of ongoing efforts to curb the illegal export of its fuel. The Persian Gulf, a key route for global oil shipments, has been a hotspot for such seizures, and tensions remain high due to past maritime incidents involving Iran and foreign vessels, including retaliatory detentions linked to U.S. sanctions enforcement.
