TEHRAN – The Iranian navy seized four tankers in the Persian Gulf and thwarted attempts to smuggle thousands of litres of oil.
Hormozgan prosecutor Ebrahim Taheli announced the operation on Tuesday, detailing how naval patrols supported by Marine Commando units successfully intercepted the vessel. This operation discovered the discovery and confiscation of large amounts of fuel found both inside the tanker and in the large attached fuel container.
The seized vessels were handed over to the National Iranian Petroleum Product Distribution Company (NIOPDC). This recent action reflects a previous incident on March 31, when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy arrested two foreign tankers who transported more than 3 million litres of smuggled diesel fuel, leading to the arrest of all 25 crew members.
Iran is engaged in rampant fuel smuggling activities, both on land and on sea. This is driven by the country’s subsidized fuel prices, one of the lowest in the world, creating a significant price difference with its neighboring countries. Continuous smuggling operations are a permanent challenge for Iranian authorities seeking to control the illegal outflow of state subsidies resources.