The Iranian Navy has recently seized two foreign vessels on charges of fuel smuggling, carrying approximately 1.5 million liters of oil. These seizures occurred earlier in the week.

The vessels in question were taken to the Mahshahr port, where authorities detained 37 crew members. The crewmembers have been handed over to judicial authorities for further legal proceedings.

Adm. Mohammad-Sharif Shirali, deputy commander of the IRGC Navy's Third Naval Zone, was quoted by the Iranian Tasmin News Agency, explaining that these vessels were apprehended while attempting to smuggle oil and gas from the Islamic Republic within the Persian Gulf. He mentioned that the vessels had been under close surveillance for the past two days, and the seizure was executed in accordance with judicial orders.

This incident is not the first time Iran has intercepted fuel-carrying vessels on smuggling charges within the Persian Gulf. A notable recent case involved the Bahamas-flagged oil tanker RICHMOND VOYAGER, which was seized after colliding with an Iranian vessel in the Sea of Oman in July.