Iran Seizes Oil Tanker Near Strait of Hormuz

Darwin, 15 November-—

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, close to the country’s coastal waters. Tehran confirmed on Saturday that the vessel, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was intercepted by Iranian forces.

According to a report by French news agency AFP, Iran detained the commercial oil tanker from the Gulf region near its coastline. The incident comes a day after multiple international security agencies reported that a commercial tanker had been seized off Iran’s coast.

In an official statement, the IRGC said, “At 7:30 a.m. local time on Friday, judicial authorities ordered the seizure of the cargo aboard the Marshall Islands–flagged tanker named ‘Talara’. After monitoring the vessel’s movements, a naval branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps detained it.”

The statement also alleged that the tanker was carrying unauthorized goods in violation of Iranian law. The vessel, reportedly transporting around 30,000 tons of petrochemical products, was en route to Singapore.

Maritime security company Ambrey reported that the tanker had departed from Ajman in the United Arab Emirates and was heading southward through the Strait of Hormuz. Three small boats approached the tanker near the area and allegedly forced it to alter its course.

Earlier, the U.S. Navy—stationed in the region—said it was closely monitoring the situation. The U.S. Fifth Fleet noted that commercial tankers and ships typically move freely through international waters without obstruction.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital global route for crude oil and liquefied natural gas transportation, has seen similar incidents in the past. Last year, the IRGC seized a container ship in the same region, claiming it had links to Israel following an alleged Israeli strike on Iran’s consulate in Syria.

Source: AFP