IRGC Claims Seizure of Two Vessels Carrying 'Smuggled Fuel' in the Persian Gulf

The naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the seizure of two vessels accused of carrying approximately '4.5 million liters' of 'smuggled fuel' south of Boumous Island in the Persian Gulf. This comes as the Islamic Republic has repeatedly been accused of oil smuggling and violating U.S. and international sanctions. Ali Azmaei, commander of the fifth naval zone, stated on Wednesday, December 6, without mentioning the nationality or flags of the two vessels, that there were a total of 34 foreign crew members on board and that the seized vessels have been handed over to judicial authorities. He did not comment on the fate of the foreign crew members. According to U.S. military officials, the Islamic Republic of Iran has conducted operations to seize around 20 vessels flying international flags in the Persian Gulf over the past two years. The U.S. has also stated that since the onset of conflicts between Israel and Hamas, the Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen has launched attacks against several commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The U.S. Central Command, CENTCOM, has accused the Islamic Republic of involvement in these attacks and added that the U.S. will consider appropriate responses. The Islamic Republic has denied these accusations. Previously, the provocative actions of the Iranian naval forces against foreign commercial ships, including vessel seizures, led to Iran losing the opportunity to host World Maritime Day celebrations. A British naval ship has been dispatched to the Persian Gulf for 'security operations.' The U.S. has warned commercial vessels in the Indian Ocean. Officials say that after the response from the U.S. Navy, the hijacked tanker is safe. An American official stated that the Islamic Republic 'probably' played a role in the hijacking in the Red Sea.