IRGC Navy seizes two foreign tankers smuggling fuel in Persian Gulf

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has confiscated two foreign tankers carrying smuggled fuel in the Persian Gulf waters.

During an operation on Monday, the IRGC Navy seized the two tankers – named Start 1 and Vintage – which were carrying over three million liters of smuggled diesel fuel.

All 25 crew members of the two tankers were also arrested.

The tankers are being transferred to Iran’s southern Bushehr port.

Iran, home to some of the world's cheapest fuel due to government subsidies, has long faced challenges with fuel smuggling, particularly in its southern maritime borders.

The significant price difference of fuel between Iran and the neighboring countries has made fuel smuggling a lucrative illegal trade.

In recent years, Iranian authorities have intensified efforts to curb fuel smuggling.

Last week, Iranian border police seized a ship carrying one million liters of smuggled oil in the waters of the Persian Gulf.

The price of diesel fuel in Iran is only 3,000 rials ($0.003) per liter for limited monthly quotas while the fuel is available at 6,000 rials per liter for unlimited usage by truck drivers and farmers using heavy machinery.

Reports have shown that large volumes of gas oil, a type of diesel fuel with less additives, that is normally supplied to Iranian power plants have also been smuggled to neighboring countries in recent months.

Senior Iranian government authorities said in December that some 25-30 million liters of fuel are being smuggled from the country every day.

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