Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) say they've detained two vessels in the Persian Gulf carrying more than 1 million litres of smuggled fuel, state media said, with 15 foreign crew members handed to judicial authorities.
State media reported that all 15 foreign crew members were taken into custody and referred to judicial authorities for investigation.
No details were released on the vessels’ flag, the crew’s nationalities or the destination of the cargo.
Fuel smuggling is a recurring issue in the region, driven by Iran’s heavily subsidised domestic fuel prices and strong demand in neighbouring markets.
Reuters has reported a series of similar seizures in recent months.
In December, Iranian forces detained a foreign tanker near Qeshm island carrying about 4 million litres of smuggled fuel and arrested 16 crew members, days after stopping another vessel with 6 million litres of diesel in the Gulf of Oman.
In March 2025, the Guards intercepted two foreign tankers in the Gulf with more than 3 million litres of diesel, detaining 25 crew members.
Iranian authorities say such operations form part of a wider effort to curb large-scale maritime fuel smuggling across regional waters.
Meanwhile, nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran are expected to take place in Oman on Friday with a possible confrontation looming as U.S. President Donald Trump builds up forces in the Middle East.
Trump has warned that "bad things" would probably happen if a deal could not be reached, ratcheting up pressure on the Islamic Republic in a standoff that has led to mutual threats of air strikes and stirred fears of escalation into a wider war.
Iran has said it will not make concessions on its formidable ballistic missile programme, calling that a red line in negotiations.
The Trump administration agreed to an Iranian request to move the talks from Türkiye and negotiations are still ongoing about whether Arab and Muslim countries from the region will join the talks in Oman, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said on Tuesday, citing an Arab source.
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U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a rare public rebuke of Israel's military tactics in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah militants, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to hunt militants.
Iran says it is prepared for all scenarios as Tehran and Washington seek to avoid renewed tensions ahead of the planned signing of a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal in Switzerland on Friday.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 17 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to be made public and both countries said a permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a rare public rebuke of Israel's military tactics in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah militants, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to hunt militants.
Ukraine has said it struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Moscow region, marking one of the deepest reported attacks into Russian territory in recent months.
The European Commission has announced €493 million in emergency support for the Ebola response, including funding for vaccines, treatment and health security measures.
Russia’s fuel market is coming under increasing strain as Ukrainian drone strikes disrupt output at major oil refineries, forcing Moscow to rely more heavily on imports from Belarus, according to sources reported by Reuters.
The United States military says it has carried out a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing one person and leaving two others alive.
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G7 leaders said on Wednesday they stand united to support Ukraine, including its territorial integrity, and agreed to increase sanctions on Russia, in a joint statement.
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