Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has seized an oil tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, intercepting what authorities described as a major fuel smuggling operation.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the IRGC announced that its naval forces conducted a “precise and coordinated operation” to stop a vessel carrying approximately 4 million liters of smuggled fuel. The tanker was reportedly attempting to leave Iran’s territorial waters when it was intercepted.

The seized vessel was crewed by 16 non-Iranian sailors, all of whom were taken into custody as part of the operation. The tanker was escorted to an Iranian port, where legal procedures have reportedly begun.

Brigadier General Abbas Gholamshahi, commander of the IRGC’s First Naval District in the Persian Gulf, told Iranian media that the tanker had been under surveillance after suspicious movements were detected.

“Our naval forces identified abnormal activity involving a large fuel tanker,” Gholamshahi said. “Intelligence investigations revealed that the vessel had received more than four million liters of smuggled fuel from smaller boats and was preparing to transfer the cargo to larger ships outside the Persian Gulf.”

Iranian authorities say the operation underscores the IRGC Navy’s ongoing efforts to combat fuel smuggling and protect national economic interests, particularly in one of the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes, has frequently been the site of heightened tensions and maritime incidents. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that the country will continue to enforce its maritime laws and safeguard its territorial waters against illegal activities.

No further details were immediately released regarding the tanker’s flag state or its intended destination. (ILKHA)