Iran seizes foreign vessel carrying smuggled fuel - Tasnim

The IRGC Navy seized a foreign vessel carrying nearly 1.5 million liters of fuel in the Persian Gulf and detained its crew, the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported on Sunday. It is unclear when exactly the vessel was seized.

Iran, which has some of the world's cheapest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the plunge in the value of its national currency, has been fighting rampant fuel smuggling over land to neighbouring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states.

The chief justice of the Bushehr Province, Mehdi Mehrangiz, stated that the vessel was carrying smuggled diesel fuel and had a crew of 10 people. Mehrangiz added that the vessel was headed to “one of the Persian Gulf countries,” without providing further details.

“Diesel, oil, and gasoline that reach people at the expense of public funds should not be smuggled to other countries, and the judicial system will decisively deal with these violations,” said Mehrangiz.

Ramazan Zirahi, commander of the second region of the IRGC Navy, stated “We are at the peak of preparation to fight against fuel smuggling and we will strictly deal with those who put the country's economy under negative influence.”

Earlier this month, the chief justice of the Hormozgan Province, Mojtaba Ghahremani, announced that a vessel carrying 125,000 liters of fuel was seized and its crew of 26 individuals was detained, according to the Fars News Agency.