Egypt demands from Iran to release four crew members of seized tanker

On January 28, Egypt announced that it is seeking the release of four of its citizens detained by Iran, following Tehran’s seizure last month of a tanker in the Persian Gulf on allegations of fuel smuggling, Iran International reports.

The four Egyptian crew members are currently aboard the vessel Reem alKhaleej in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, according to a statement from Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, cited by Iran International.

Iran has in recent months seized one or more foreign‑flagged oil tankers in the Persian Gulf or Gulf of Oman, accusing them of carrying smuggled fuel, part of a broader crackdown on illicit maritime fuel trade.

In late December 2025, Iranian authorities seized a foreign oil tanker near the Iranian island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf, alleging it was carrying around 4 million litres of smuggled fuel. Sixteen non‑Iranian crew members were detained. 

Iranian media reported the vessel was intercepted and brought into Iranian territorial waters by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy.

By Khagan Isayev