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Iran seizes third oil tanker

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Iran has seized a third oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, intercepting the vessel near Iran’s Farsi Island, north of the Straits of Hormuz where the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have a naval base.

Iranian media reports said the ship was an Iraqi tanker smuggling oil that was captured in a “surprise operation” by the IRGC. The IRGC detained the seven person crew as part of the operation but their nationalities are currently unknown. The Iraqi oil ministry denied the claim telling Al Jazeera it doesn’t export diesel to the international market

IRGC commander Ramazen Ziahri said: “The IRGC’s naval forces have seized a foreign oil tanker in the Persian Gulf that was smuggling fuel for some Arab countries. The boats of the IRGC navy were patrolling the area to control traffic and detect illicit trade when they seized the tanker.” He said the vessel was seized in Iranian territorial waters after it “received fuel from other ships and was transferring it to Persian Gulf Arab states.” He said it was carrying 700,000 litres of fuel, which was handed over to the authorities” at the Bushehr port, on Iran’s coast.

This is the third oil tanker seized by Iran in the last month. The Panama-registered but UAE-owned MT Riah was taken on 13 July also for allegedly smuggling fuel. On 19 July Iran seized the Stena Impero, a British-flagged tanker in the Straits of Hormuz. The tanker and its 23 person crew are still being held by the Iranian authorities.