TEHRAN – The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) navy, following a judicial order, has seized the oil tanker Talala off the southern coast of Makran.
The Revolutionary Guards Navy announced that emergency response forces began tracking the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker at 7:30 a.m. Friday after a court ordered the seizure of its cargo. The ship was headed for Singapore with 30,000 tons of petrochemical raw materials, but was ordered to stop for inspection due to violations.
In a statement, the Revolutionary Guards Navy stressed that the operation was “carried out in accordance with legal obligations to protect the national interests and resources of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Officials added that a thorough investigation of the tanker, cargo and documentation concluded that the vessel was transporting unauthorized goods.
U.S. officials confirmed that the Talala had left Ajman, United Arab Emirates, on its way to Singapore when it was intercepted by the Revolutionary Guards.