Overview

• Iranian authorities intercepted a foreign-flagged tanker in the Gulf of Oman on July 16 for allegedly transporting 2 million liters of smuggled fuel
• The vessel was seized after officials found its cargo lacked proper legal documentation during routine Gulf of Oman monitoring
• Seventeen individuals, including the captain and crew, have been detained and a judicial case has been initiated at the Jask County prosecutor’s office
• This operation is the latest in a series of tanker seizures that began in April 2023 as part of Iran’s sustained maritime enforcement campaign
• Chronic low domestic fuel prices and heavy subsidies in Iran fuel large-scale smuggling that Tehran seeks to curb through intensified naval and judicial measures