The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Thursday that they had seized a foreign ship carrying one million liters of smuggled fuel south of Larak Island in the Persian Gulf on Sunday, according to Fars News.
The foreign ship was seized by an order of Iranian judicial authorities during an operation to monitor and control traffic in the Persian Gulf in order to detect and combat organized smuggling.
The ship had a capacity of two million liters and had 12 foreign crew members, according to Fars.
“We’re seeking further information following reports of a tanker seized in the Gulf. We continue to urge the Iranian authorities to de-escalate the situation in the region,” a British government spokeswoman said.
“We are continuously monitoring the security situation there and are committed to maintaining freedom of navigation, in accordance with international law.”
US Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie said on Thursday it was talking to other countries about freedom of navigation in the Gulf and will work “aggressively” to find a solution to enable free passage.
McKenzie was taking to reporters in Riyadh in a joint news conference with General Prince Fahd bin Turki, commander of the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen.
Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz. (photo credit: REUTERS/HAMAD I MOHAMMED)
