Iran seizes foreign tanker on fuel smuggling claim

• Iran has seized a foreign tanker in the Gulf of Oman, accusing it of smuggling two million litres of fuel.
• Seventeen crew members were arrested following the seizure, and a judicial case has been opened.
• Hormozgan's chief justice, Mojtaba Ghahremani, stated that the tanker was inspected due to a lack of legal documents for its cargo.
• The Gulf of Oman is a vital shipping route for oil produced around the Persian Gulf, connecting to the Strait of Hormuz.
• Fuel smuggling is an increasing problem for Iran, largely due to its subsidised low fuel prices and the sharp decline in its national currency.

IN FULL

Iran seizes foreign tanker smuggling 2 million litres of fuel