Iran detains foreign oil tanker and seizes its crew

The Iranian authorities announced today, Wednesday, July 16, that they have detained a foreign oil tanker in the Sea of Oman after it was caught transporting a smuggled quantity estimated at two million liters of fuel, according to Fars News Agency.

This comes as part of continuous monitoring and surveillance efforts of suspicious activities in Iranian territorial waters.

The Iranian judicial police confirmed that the tanker lacked the necessary legal documents for its cargo, leading to the seizure of the tanker and the detention of 17 suspects, including the captain and the ship's crew, for further investigations and necessary legal procedures.

An official case has been filed with the Prosecutor's Office in Jask city, and judicial investigations are ongoing to uncover the details of the charges and expand the circle of potential responsible parties.

This action comes in the context of Iran's intensified efforts to combat fuel smuggling in its territorial waters, especially in the vital Sea of Oman region.