Mojtaba Ghahreman said the vessel was detained as part of ongoing intelligence monitoring of suspicious fuel smuggling activities along Iran’s maritime borders in the Sea of Oman.
He stated that, after obtaining judicial authorization, enforcement officers inspected a foreign oil tanker in waters under Iran’s sovereignty west of Jask and seized it due to multiple maritime violations and deficiencies in legal documentation related to its cargo.
Ghahreman said the tanker was seized on charges of transporting 6 million liters of smuggled fuel, adding that the cargo is equivalent to the capacity of about 200 small vessels and 2,000 Nissan pickup trucks.
He noted that, following reports by enforcement officers, a case has been opened at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Jask County, and judicial proceedings into the charges are continuing.
The official added that 18 suspects, including the captain and crew of the foreign oil tanker, have been placed under supervision after appropriate legal measures were issued to complete investigations and legal procedures.
Ghahreman further said the tanker committed multiple violations in addition to organized fuel smuggling, including ignoring stop orders and attempting to flee, lacking maritime and cargo documents, turning off its radar, and deliberately damaging the vessel’s equipment during the seizure.
He said the outcomes of judicial proceedings will be announced in due course.
IRNA