Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intercepted a vessel under the flag to Togo, a tanker operated by a company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was transporting 1,500 tons of marine gas oil, Reuters reported, citing the British company "Ambry" (Ambrey).
The vessel was loaded off the coast of Iraq and its final destination was the port of Sharjah in the UAE. It was intercepted yesterday about 61 nautical miles southwest of the Iranian port of Bushehr, Ambri said.
According to the British company, it is unlikely that the case is politically motivated and, in its judgment, it is not a matter of a "military" character. She believes the vessel was likely intercepted as part of a KGIR anti-smuggling operation, as the "commercial behavior" of the vessel corresponds to that of other vessels targeted by KGIR.
Iran, where fuel prices are among the lowest in the world thanks to generous subsidies and a depreciating local currency, is fighting rampant fuel smuggling by land to neighboring countries and by sea to Arab Gulf states. points out Reuters.
There are currently no further details on the vessel's condition.