Iran Seizes Foreign Oil Tanker Carrying 6 Million Liters of Smuggled Diesel in Sea of Oman

Tanker Intercepted Off Oman Coast

Iranian authorities have announced the seizure of a foreign oil tanker in the Sea of Oman, alleging the vessel was transporting 6 million liters of smuggled diesel fuel. The interception occurred overnight on Friday, December 12, 2025, or early Saturday, December 13, 2025, off the coast near Jask, within Iranian territorial waters.

According to Mojtaba Ghahremani, Head of the Judiciary in Hormozgan Province, the tanker was impounded after it was found to be operating without active navigation systems and lacked valid maritime travel documents or a cargo manifest for its fuel shipment. Ghahremani also stated that the crew was 'deliberately destroying the ship's equipment at the time of the seizure' and that the vessel had ignored orders to stop and attempted to escape.

Crew Detained, Vessel Details Undisclosed

A total of 18 crew members were on board the seized tanker. These individuals are nationals from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, and have been detained following the operation. Iranian authorities have not disclosed the name or flag of the seized vessel, stating that investigations are ongoing.

Context of Fuel Smuggling and Regional Tensions

The seizure is part of Iran's ongoing efforts to combat fuel smuggling, a persistent issue attributed to the country's heavily subsidized and low-priced fuel, which makes illegal sales to neighboring countries highly profitable. Iranian forces, often including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), frequently announce the interception of vessels accused of illegally transporting fuel in the Gulf region.

This incident occurs amidst heightened regional maritime tensions and follows closely on the heels of another significant event. Just two days prior, the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Washington alleged that the US-seized vessel was transporting oil originating from Venezuela and Iran, and was part of a sanctioned network linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah. Iran has a history of targeting commercial vessels in the region, with several similar actions reported in recent months.