Iran seizes two tankers for alleged fuel smuggling and detains crew

Iran seizes two tankers for alleged fuel smuggling and detains crew

by The Editorial Team SAFETY4SEA

 February 6, 2026

Credit: Shutterstock

Iran’s state television reported on 5 February that Iranian authorities had seized two foreign oil tankers in the Gulf, alleging that the vessels were involved in fuel smuggling.

According to General Heydar Honarian-Mojarrad, Commander of the second naval zone of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the two vessels were carrying approximately one million litres of fuel (around 6,300 barrels), including diesel. He said the tankers were intercepted near Farsi Island and subsequently taken to the port of Bushehr.

Furthermore, Mojarrad also stated that 15 crew members from the two tankers are currently in the custody of judicial authorities, though he did not disclose their nationalities.

Iran has previously seized oil-carrying vessels in the region on similar allegations. In December last year, a foreign oil tanker was detained while transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz, with 16 crew members taken into custody.