Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed on Saturday that they had taken control of a tanker in the Gulf waters transporting petrochemicals bound for Singapore due to alleged violations, as reported by Iranian state media. A U.S. official and maritime security sources mentioned on Friday that Iranian forces had intercepted the oil products tanker and redirected it into Iranian territorial waters. This incident marks the first tanker seizure by Tehran since Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran in June.
Iranian state television broadcasted a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stating that the tanker was seized for carrying unauthorized cargo, without specifying the exact violations. The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, named the Talara, was sailing near the coast of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and was transporting high-sulfur gas oil from Sharjah in the U.A.E. to Singapore through the Indian Ocean.
Columbia Shipmanagement, the tanker’s manager, reported losing contact with the Talara on Friday morning approximately 37 kilometers off the coast of Khor Fakkan, U.A.E. They are collaborating with relevant authorities and the vessel’s owner to reestablish communication. The ship is under the ownership of Cyprus-based Pasha Finance.
In response to the incident, the U.S. military stated that they are monitoring the situation closely. The IRGC of Iran has seized commercial vessels in Gulf waters in the past, citing reasons such as alleged smuggling, technical violations, or legal disputes. However, a U.S. official, speaking anonymously, expressed surprise as Iran had not conducted such operations in recent months.
Following the Israeli bombing campaign in June, joined by the United States, Iran has reduced its military activities in the region. The last known vessel seizure by Iran was reported in April 2024.