Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed on Saturday the seizure of a tanker in the Gulf waters carrying petrochemicals bound for Singapore due to alleged violations, as reported by Iranian state media. The vessel, named Talara and flying the Marshall Islands flag, was transporting high-sulfur gas oil from the United Arab Emirates to Singapore when it was intercepted and diverted into Iranian territorial waters by Iranian forces. This incident marks the first reported seizure of a tanker by Tehran since Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iran in June.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the tanker was found in violation for carrying unauthorized cargo, without providing specifics on the alleged breaches. The ship, managed by Columbia Shipmanagement, lost contact on Friday morning off the coast of Khor Fakkan, U.A.E., prompting efforts to reestablish communication with the vessel owner and relevant maritime security agencies. The tanker is owned by Pasha Finance, based in Cyprus.
The U.S. military acknowledged the incident and is closely monitoring the situation. Iran’s IRGC has a history of seizing commercial vessels in the Gulf region, citing maritime violations like smuggling, technical infractions, or legal disputes. The recent seizure came as a surprise, considering Iran’s reduced military activities following the Israeli-U.S. airstrikes in June. The last reported vessel seizure by Iran occurred in April 2024.
