Iran seizes two foreign tankers in fuel smuggling bust

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite unit of Iran’s armed forces, seized two foreign tankers in the Persian Gulf, reportedly carrying over 3 million liters (792,516 US gallons) of smuggled diesel fuel.

"These two tankers, with 25 crew members, were engaged in organised fuel smuggling in the central waters of the Persian Gulf and were collectively carrying over 3 million litres of smuggled diesel fuel," Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

No further information was provided regarding the nationality of the tankers or the status of the crew members. The tankers are being transferred to Bushehr port in Iran. Mehdi Mehrangiz, a senior judiciary official in Bushehr province, confirmed that the vessels were seized under a judicial order.

Iran, known for having some of the world’s lowest fuel prices due to heavy subsidies and the devaluation of its national currency, has been struggling with widespread fuel smuggling, both by land to neighboring countries and by sea to Gulf Arab states.

By Naila Huseynova