Iranian authorities in the Hormozgan province have detained a foreign tanker in the Gulf of Oman, arresting its 18-member crew. The seizure, which occurred on Saturday, is reportedly linked to the alleged smuggling of six million liters of fuel.
Local media, citing judicial sources, reported that the tanker’s captain is among those detained. The rest of the crew are reportedly from India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. According to reports, the vessel is accused of several violations, including ignoring orders to halt, attempting to flee, and lacking proper navigation and shipping documentation.
Iran has been grappling with the issue of fuel smuggling to neighboring countries. This is despite the country having some of the lowest gasoline prices globally, a result of substantial subsidies and a devalued local currency. In an attempt to control rising demand without triggering public unrest, Iran has decided to increase the price of subsidized gasoline for high-volume consumers.
The new pricing, implemented starting Friday midnight, sets the cost at 50,000 Iranian rials per liter (approximately four US cents at the free market rate) for those exceeding the monthly consumption limit of 160 liters. The government had repeatedly postponed previous increases, fearing a repeat of the widespread protests that occurred in 2019. The situation remains sensitive as Iran seeks to balance economic pressures with the potential for social unrest.
