Iran Confirms Seizure of Tanker in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the seizure of a tanker on Friday in the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker, named Talara and flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was en route from the United Arab Emirates to Singapore. The IRGC alleged the vessel was in violation of the law for carrying unauthorized cargo, although precise details were not disclosed, with reports indicating it contained high-sulphur gasoil. The Persian Gulf, a vital global shipping pathway for oil and liquefied natural gas, has frequently seen Iran seize tankers and cargo ships on accusations of maritime infringements like smuggling. Ambrey, a maritime security firm, noted that the Talara tanker, which had left Ajman in the UAE, altered its course after being approached by three small boats in the Strait of Hormuz.