The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, an elite military force, has announced the capture of two foreign vessels allegedly involved in smuggling 1.5 million liters of fuel in the Gulf. Rear Admiral Mohammad Sharif Sheer Ali, Deputy Commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s Third Naval District, disclosed the details surrounding the seizure.
Sheer Ali noted that the Guard’s naval forces are always vigilant and precise in monitoring unauthorized activities by commercial and military ships originating outside the region. “Our forces swiftly carry out their duties with utmost authority,” he remarked.
The rear admiral further confirmed that the detained oil carriers, flying under the Panamanian and Tanzanian flags, respectively, bear the commercial names “Steven” and “Crown.”
“In the past two days, following intelligence observations and under a judicial order, the Third District naval forces of the Revolutionary Guard stationed at the Mahshahr port and in the northern Gulf, detained two ships systematically involved in smuggling Iranian fuel in the Gulf,” he elucidated.
Rear Admiral Sheer Ali continued, “Members of the Revolutionary Guard’s Third Naval District, exhibiting vigilance, professional conduct, and issuing firm warnings to all foreign forces present in the area, resolutely apprehended the two violating ships. Both vessels were escorted to the Mahshahr port and Arvand base. Their crews, totaling 37 individuals, were handed over to the appropriate judicial authorities to proceed with the legal actions.”
Tensions have been escalating in the Gulf due to various geopolitical reasons, and the latest incident is a testament to the heightened security measures in the region. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard, founded post the 1979 Iranian revolution, plays a pivotal role in the nation’s defense and intelligence sectors. Its actions in the Gulf, particularly concerning naval operations, have consistently made global headlines. This seizure underscores Iran’s assertive stance on its territorial waters and its continuous efforts to monitor and counteract alleged illegal activities, especially amidst the backdrop of international sanctions and regional rivalries.
