Middle East News, December 13, 2025, Avia.pro. Iran seized a foreign oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman suspected of fuel smuggling, Bloomberg reported, citing the Iranian news agency Fars. According to the source, the vessel's entire crew of 18 was detained. The tanker was carrying approximately 6 million liters of oil, equivalent to approximately 37,000 barrels. Iranian authorities have not yet disclosed the cargo's destination, the vessel's nationality, or further details of the incident.

This incident marks the second such incident involving Iran in recent weeks. In November, Iranian forces intercepted the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Talara in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was released several days later, but without its cargo, suggesting the fuel had been confiscated. Bloomberg notes that these events come amid the recent interception by US authorities of a tanker off the coast of Venezuela, which, according to the US, was linked to Iranian oil trade and was carrying 1,1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil.

Tehran has not officially commented on the connection between the incidents, but an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman previously called the US actions "state piracy" and warned of potential consequences for American interests in the region.