Iran says it has seized foreign ship smuggling diesel

Iranian Revolutionary Guards have seized a foreign ship in Gulf waters for allegedly smuggling diesel, a Guards commander said.

“A foreign ship carrying smuggled diesel was seized,” Iran’s state broadcaster quoted Col Ahmad Hajian, commander of the Naval Type 412 Zulfaqar, as saying.

“After inspection, more than 150,000 litres of smuggled diesel were discovered,” he added.

Hajian said the ship’s 11 crew members were detained for interrogation. He did not provide the ship’s nationality or details on when it was seized.

The incident is the latest in a series in the Gulf, with several ships attacked or seized in recent years.

To protect Iran’s economy, Hajian said, his unit would “deal decisively” with fuel smuggling in the sea.

On 10 November, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the release of the Vietnamese-flagged MV Sothys tanker, which they had seized in October in the Sea of Oman.

The latest incident comes as the Islamic republic is preparing to resume talks with major powers aimed at ending a standoff over its nuclear deal.