Tehran, Iran – The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced the seizure of a foreign oil tanker. The tanker was sailing off the southern coast of the Makran region, and the seizure followed a court order mandating the confiscation of its cargo, according to an official statement issued by the Iranian Navy.
The statement indicated that at 7:30 a.m. yesterday, the Rapid Intervention Forces received an order from judicial authorities to seize the cargo of an oil tanker named “Talara.” This tanker flies the Marshall Islands flag. Specialized units immediately began tracking the tanker’s movements and then initiated an operation to intercept and take control of it within Iranian territorial waters.
According to the Iranian navy, the tanker was carrying approximately 30,000 tons of petrochemicals. It was en route to Singapore. The following morning, it was escorted to a designated anchorage area for technical and legal inspection.
The Revolutionary Guard confirmed that the arrests were carried out within its legal duties. This was done to protect the national interests and sovereign resources of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Revolutionary Guard indicated that the operation was conducted under the direct supervision of the relevant judicial authorities.
The statement explained that the final reports on the tanker’s status were issued after the completion of cargo inspections and a thorough examination of the vessel. Its documents were also reviewed, revealing – according to the navy – that the tanker was in violation of regulations and carrying an unauthorized cargo. This necessitated its seizure in accordance with Iranian maritime law.
This incident comes amid recurring tensions in the shipping lanes of the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Iran seeks to impose stricter controls on shipping traffic, claiming that these vessels violate its laws or threaten its resources.
