Iranian authorities have intercepted a foreign-flagged tanker in the Gulf of Oman carrying 2 million liters (approximately 528,000 gallons) of smuggled fuel, the judiciary announced on Wednesday.

Mojtaba Ghahremani, chief justice of southern Hormozgan province, stated that the vessel was seized after inspections revealed incomplete legal documentation for its cargo. The semi-official Mehr News Agency reported that the tanker was detected during routine surveillance operations targeting illegal fuel smuggling in the region.

"Seventeen suspects, including the captain and crew, have been arrested," Ghahremani said, though he did not disclose their nationalities or the tanker’s name and flag state. A judicial case has been filed at the Jask county prosecutor's office.

Fuel smuggling remains a major challenge for Iran, where heavily subsidized domestic prices—among the world’s lowest—make fuel a lucrative target for illegal trade. Smugglers often transport fuel by land to neighboring countries or by sea to Gulf Arab states.

Ghahremani warned that smugglers collaborating with foreign entities to "plunder national wealth" would face strict punishment if convicted.

This is not the first such seizure by Iranian authorities. In April, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confiscated two Tanzanian-flagged tankers—Sea Ranger and Salama—for alleged fuel smuggling. The 1.5 million liters of diesel onboard were later handed over to the National Iranian Oil Products Refining and Distribution Company.

In November 2023, Iran also seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, further highlighting ongoing efforts to curb illicit fuel trade in the region.