Iran seizes oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz, detains 16 crew members

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has seized a foreign‑crewed oil tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, claiming it was carrying millions of litres of smuggled fuel , officials said Friday. The vessel, intercepted near the Iranian island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf, was carrying about 4 million litres of fuel that Tehran says was transferred offshore for illicit sale.

Sixteen crew members were detained, though their nationalities and the ship’s flag have not been disclosed. Authorities said the tanker and its cargo, valued at more than $5 million , will be transferred to government control under judicial order.

This latest seizure marks at least the third vessel Iran has publicly reported seizing in 2025, following a Marshall Islands‑flagged tanker in November and another fuel-laden vessel in December carrying roughly 6 million litres of illicit fuel. Analysts say Iran regularly intercepts vessels in Gulf waters to curb smuggling, a trade driven by the country’s heavily subsidized domestic fuel prices and the profit opportunity abroad. Iranian commanders described the operation as “highly coordinated,” with intelligence showing the cargo had been transferred at sea from smaller craft to the larger tanker.

The incident underscores Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. This narrow waterway, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, sees roughly 20 percent of global oil trade pass through it. Iran’s geographic position allows it to monitor and, if necessary, restrict shipping traffic, giving it significant leverage in regional and global energy markets. Tehran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait in response to sanctions or foreign military actions, while the US Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet maintains a continuous presence to ensure freedom of navigation.

The seizure also comes amid heightened regional tensions. Iran has previously carried out attacks on vessels, including limpet mine strikes in 2019 and a drone attack on an Israeli-linked tanker in 2021. It also engaged in a 12-day conflict with Israel in 2025, during which missile exchanges caused multiple casualties. Iran’s repeated control over Hormuz and its ability to detain foreign vessels continue to make it a strategic pivot point, with potential consequences for global oil markets and international shipping.