Iran seizes two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf

Iran announced the seizure of two foreign vessels accused of smuggling about one million liters of oil near Farsi island, escorting them to shore.

Heydar Honarian-Mojarrad, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy's Second Region, announced on 5/2 that his forces had seized two oil tankers near Farsi island and escorted them to Bushehr port in western Iran.

The two vessels carried about one million liters of fuel, equivalent to 6,300 barrels, including diesel. 15 crew members from the two ships are being held. Commander Honarian-Mojarrad did not specify the nationality of the sailors, nor the origin or destination of the oil tankers.

Iranian officials accuse the two ships of being part of an organized fuel smuggling network operating in the region for several months. The IRGC detected these foreign oil tankers through intelligence operations.

Iranian speedboats near an oil tanker at Bushehr port, 2024. *Photo: AFP*

Iran's fuel prices are among the lowest globally due to government subsidies, a factor that fuels the proliferation of cheap oil smuggling from the country.

Tehran has for many years implemented campaigns against fuel smuggling to neighboring countries by land and sea, seizing several foreign vessels suspected of involvement.

In 12/2025, Iran seized a foreign oil tanker with 16 crew members transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In 11/2025, the country also seized several oil vessels, confiscating hundreds of thousands of petrochemical products.

The latest seizure occurred one day before US-Iran nuclear negotiations in Muscat, Oman's capital. Washington has not commented on the incident.