Iranian authorities have seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, a move that comes amidst a significant buildup of military tension and high-stakes diplomatic activity in the region. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy conducted the operation on Thursday near Farsi Island, a strategic location frequently used as a base for the elite force’s maritime activities.
According to reports from Iranian state television and the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the tankers were intercepted on allegations of fuel smuggling. General Heidar Honarian Mojarrad, a regional commander within the IRGC's naval wing, confirmed that the vessels were carrying approximately one million liters of fuel, which includes a substantial amount of diesel. Following the seizure, both tankers were escorted to the port of Bushehr for further investigation.
Along with the vessels, fifteen foreign crew members were taken into custody. While Iranian officials have confirmed that the detainees have been referred to judicial bodies for criminal prosecution, the specific nationalities of the crew members and the names of the vessels involved have not yet been released. Iranian state media described the seizure as part of a coordinated effort to dismantle a smuggling network that has been operating in the area for several months.
This latest maritime incident occurs during a period of acute regional friction. Earlier the same week, the United States military reported two separate confrontations with Iranian forces. In one instance, a U.S. Navy F-35 fighter jet shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone that had aggressively approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. In another, IRGC fast boats and a drone reportedly harassed the M/V Stena Imperative, a U.S.-flagged tanker, in the Strait of Hormuz, though the vessel continued its journey after receiving a U.S. Navy escort.
The timing of these seizures is also notable due to the diplomatic calendar. Representatives from the United States and Iran were scheduled to meet in Oman for indirect talks aimed at addressing Tehran’s nuclear enrichment program and broader regional security concerns. Analysts suggest that the IRGC’s actions may be intended as a display of naval strength or as a form of leverage ahead of such negotiations.
Iran frequently detains vessels in the Persian Gulf on smuggling charges, often citing the illicit export of heavily subsidized Iranian fuel to neighboring markets where prices are significantly higher. Similar incidents were recorded in late 2025, involving the seizure of ships and the detention of crews from various nations, which often lead to protracted legal and diplomatic disputes. ARTIC