Iran Detains Tanker Carrying 900 Tons of "Smuggled Fuel"

A report from the semi-official Fars news agency stated today, Friday, that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has detained a tanker carrying 900 metric tons of "smuggled fuel" with a crew of 12 individuals based on a court order. The agency reported from the port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran that "patrol ships of the Revolutionary Guard’s naval force in the Persian Gulf judicially stopped a vessel carrying 900 tons of smuggled fuel with 12 crew members on board." No further details about the tanker were provided. Iran, which has some of the cheapest fuel prices in the world due to significant subsidies and a depreciating currency, is struggling with widespread fuel smuggling on land to neighboring countries. British maritime security company Ambrey reported yesterday, Thursday, that it is aware of an attempt by the Revolutionary Guard to seize a small tanker flying the Tanzanian flag approximately 59 nautical miles northeast of the Saudi city of Dammam.