Iran seizes foreign oil tanker smuggling fuel in Sea of Oman PHOTO

Iran has seized a foreign oil tanker in the Sea of Oman while it was smuggling a large cargo of 2 million litres of fuel.

Mojtaba Ghahremani, the chief judge of Hormozgan Province, announced the arrest of the foreign oil tanker on charges of smuggling 2 million litres of fuel in the Sea of Oman, Caliber.Az reports via Iranian media.

Further details, including the vessel’s nationality and its destination, have not yet been disclosed.

Ghahremani stated that after continuous monitoring of suspicious fuel smuggling along Iran’s maritime borders in the Gulf of Oman, law enforcement officials inspected the foreign oil tanker. Due to incomplete documentation regarding the cargo, the vessel was detained on suspicion of transporting smuggled fuel.

A case has been opened with the relevant authorities in the city of Jask, and a judicial investigation is underway.

Ghahremani added that 17 people, including the captain and crew of the tanker, have been detained as part of the legal proceedings.

He also noted that authorities are gathering evidence to determine the exact volume of the fuel cargo, conducting sampling and laboratory tests, and verifying the ship’s documentation. The judicial authorities will announce the results of the investigation once it is completed.

By Vugar Khalilov