Iranian forces seize two foreign tankers amid growing Middle East tensions.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have seized two overseas-registered tankers accused of fuel smuggling.

The vessels were carrying more than 3m litres (792,000 gallons) of diesel in the Middle East Gulf, state media reported.

Iran’s Press TV named the ships as the Start 1 and the Vintage, which cannot be found in maritime databases.

According to an online media agency, the state media said,

“These two tankers, with 25 crew members, were engaged in organised fuel smuggling in the central waters of the Persian Gulf and were collectively carrying over 3m litres of smuggled diesel fuel.”

There were no details were given of the ship’s flag states.

The tankers, probably small coastal vessels, were being moved to the port of Bushehr.

A local base media agency quoted Mehdi Mehrangiz, a senior judiciary official in Bushehr province, saying that the ships were seized under a judicial order.

Press TV reported that the operation took place on Monday.

It said all 25 crew members on both ships were arrested.

Iran has been fighting the smuggling of its cheap fuel to other Gulf states.

Authorities have stepped up anti-smuggling efforts in recent years.

Last week, Iranian border police intercepted a vessel carrying 1m litres of smuggled oil, Reuters reported.

The diesel price in Iran is only IRR 3,000 ($0.07) per litre for limited monthly quotas.

The fuel is available at IRR 6,000 for unlimited usage by truck drivers and farmers using heavy machinery.

Senior government authorities said in December that between 25m and 30m litres were being moved out of the country illegally each day.

BACKGROUND OF THE SEIZURE

On March 25, Iranian forces intercepted the Panama-flagged tanker ‘Niovi’ in the Strait of Hormuz.

The vessel, en route from Dubai to Fujairah, was surrounded by approximately a dozen fast-attack craft of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN).

The ‘Niovi’ was subsequently forced to reverse course and head toward Iranian territorial waters near Bandar Abbas.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency confirmed the seizure of the “violator” ship but did not provide specific details regarding the reasons for the action. ​

On March 26, Iranian naval vessels attempted to seize the Bahamas-flagged tanker ‘Richmond Voyager’ in international waters off the coast of Oman, more than 20 nautical miles from Muscat.

Iranian forces fired multiple rounds at the vessel, causing some damage near crew living spaces.

The situation de-escalated when the U.S. Navy’s guided-missile destroyer, USS McFaul, responded to the distress call and approached the scene.

This prompted the Iranian vessels to depart. The ‘Richmond Voyager’ is managed by Chevron, and the crew reported no casualties. ​

CONTEXT AND IMPLICATIONS

These incidents occur amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region.

It particularly follows the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear agreement in 2018 and the reimposition of sanctions.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint, with at least a third of the world’s seaborne oil passing through its narrow passages.

The U.S. Navy has documented numerous instances of Iranian harassment or attacks on internationally flagged merchant vessels in recent years.

It described such actions as “contrary to international law” and disruptive to regional stability. ​

The seizure of the ‘Niovi’ and the attempted seizure of the ‘Richmond Voyager’ underscore the persistent volatility of the region and the potential for rapid escalation.

According to reports, the international community continues to monitor these developments closely.

It also continues to emphasize the importance of ensuring the free and safe passage of vessels through vital maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook