Iran Seizes Foreign Oil Tanker in Gulf Over Fuel Smuggling Suspicions
Iranian state media reported on Friday, December 26, 2025, that authorities have seized a foreign oil tanker in Gulf waters near Qeshm Island, amid suspicions of its involvement in the smuggling of large quantities of fuel.
According to Iranian state television and the news agency "Reuters," the tanker was carrying approximately 4 million liters of smuggled fuel, although officials have not disclosed the vessel's name or its nationality.
Official sources indicated that 16 crew members, all foreign nationals, were detained and face criminal charges. The arrests reportedly took place last Wednesday.
In this context, Iranian news outlets released video footage and images allegedly linked to the seized tanker, but did not provide further details regarding its destination or the circumstances of the smuggling.
This incident follows a recent announcement by Tehran regarding the detention of another foreign tanker in the Gulf of Oman, which was carrying 6 million liters of smuggled fuel, without revealing its identity or flag state.
Iran aims to enhance its efforts to combat fuel smuggling, which has been on the rise both on land to neighboring countries and at sea to Gulf states. This increase occurs amid the backdrop of Iran's low fuel prices, attributed to extensive government subsidies, and a significant decline in the value of the national currency, making fuel smuggling an attractive venture for smuggling networks.
