Iran Intercepts Two Tankers Carrying 3 Million Liters of Illicit Diesel in the Persian Gulf

the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran recently took control of two foreign-flagged tankers in the Persian Gulf, alleging they were involved in diesel fuel smuggling.

iranian state media reported that these vessels were carrying over three million liters (about 792,516 gallons) of diesel obtained through illicit means. The ships, identified as Start 1 and Vintage, were intercepted while navigating central waters in the Gulf. Authorities confirmed that there were 25 crew members aboard both tankers.

Currently, all crew members are being held, but their nationalities remain undisclosed. The seized vessels are en route to Bushehr port for further processing.

Mehdi Mehrangiz, a senior official from Bushehr’s judiciary system, mentioned that this operation was executed following a judicial directive. however, specifics about any legal actions against the detained crew have yet to be revealed.

In Iran, diesel is significantly cheaper than in neighboring countries—this price disparity fuels an illegal smuggling trade that’s hard to ignore. Iranian officials assert that organized networks are actively moving fuel across borders by land and sea into other Gulf nations.

In recent years, Iran has ramped up its efforts to combat smuggling activities. Just last week alone saw Iranian border police intercept another vessel attempting to transport one million liters of illegally acquired oil within the same region.Estimates suggest that between 25 million and 30 million liters of fuel leave Iran illegally every day—a staggering figure! Diesel prices within Iran stand at IRR 3,000 (around $0.003) per liter under a limited monthly quota; unrestricted use costs IRR 6,000 per liter instead.

This significant price difference compared to other Gulf states continues to drive persistent attempts at smuggling. Consequently,Iranian authorities have been compelled to enhance security measures along their borders and coastlines—an ongoing challenge for them amidst rising tensions in the region.