Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed on Saturday that they had seized a tanker in Gulf waters transporting petrochemicals bound for Singapore due to alleged violations. A U.S. official and maritime security sources reported that Iranian forces intercepted the oil products tanker and redirected it into Iranian territorial waters. This incident marks the first seizure of a tanker by Tehran since Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran in June.
According to Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the tanker was in violation for carrying unauthorized cargo, without providing further details on the alleged violations. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, named the Talara, was sailing off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and carrying high-sulfur gas oil from Sharjah in the U.A.E. to Singapore through the Indian Ocean.
The vessel’s manager, Columbia Shipmanagement, reported losing contact with the Talara on Friday morning about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Khor Fakkan, U.A.E. They are collaborating with relevant parties, including maritime security agencies and the vessel’s owner, to reestablish contact. The ship is owned by Cyprus-based Pasha Finance.
The U.S. military acknowledged the incident and is actively monitoring the situation. The IRGC has a history of seizing commercial vessels in Gulf waters, citing maritime violations such as smuggling, technical infractions, or legal disputes. The recent seizure is notable as Iran had refrained from such operations in recent months, following reduced military activities after the Israeli bombing campaign in June. Iran’s last reported vessel seizure was in April 2024.