- Sixteen Foreign Crew Members Detained on Criminal Charges.
- Earlier Seizure Reported in the Gulf of Oman Involving Smuggled Diesel.
- Iran Steps Up Crackdown on Fuel Smuggling Amid Subsidy Pressures.
Iran has recently taken control of a foreign oil tanker close to the Iranian island of Qeshm in the Gulf, claiming it was transporting about 4 million litres of smuggled fuel, as reported by state media on Friday. The operation reportedly occurred on Wednesday, reports Reuters.
Crew Members Detained, Vessel Details Not Disclosed
Officials have not revealed the name or nationality of the tanker. They did confirm that 16 foreign crew members have been detained and are facing criminal charges related to fuel smuggling.
Previous Seizure in the Gulf of Oman
This incident comes on the heels of another seizure announced last week, where Iran stated it intercepted a foreign tanker in the Gulf of Oman that was carrying around 6 million litres of suspected smuggled diesel. Similar to the latest case, no information was provided about the vessel or its flag.
Increased Efforts Against Fuel Smuggling
Iran has ramped up its efforts to tackle fuel smuggling, motivated by heavily subsidised domestic fuel prices and the significant decline of its national currency. Authorities indicate that these factors have led to widespread smuggling, both by land to neighbouring countries and by sea to Gulf states.
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Source: Reuters
