Iran has detained a foreign oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on suspicion of fuel smuggling, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency.

Mojtaba Ghahremani, chief justice of Hormozgan Province, said the vessel was carrying around 6 million litres of fuel, equivalent to about 37,000 barrels, and that 18 crew members had been taken into custody. Officials did not reveal the tanker’s flag, its destination or the precise timing of the operation.

Iranian forces frequently stop vessels in the country’s southern waters as part of efforts to tackle fuel smuggling, which authorities say has risen due to domestic price controls and demand in neighbouring states. Officials indicated that the latest incident did not appear to be a response to any specific foreign move.

The detention comes a few weeks after Iran intercepted the Marshall Islands–flagged tanker Talara following its transit of the Strait of Hormuz. That ship was later allowed to depart without its cargo, according to its manager.

It also follows a recent US seizure of a tanker off Venezuela that Washington alleges was transporting sanctioned oil linked to Iran. Tehran has not confirmed any formal connection between the two cases, although Iran’s foreign ministry has described the US action as “state piracy” and warned of consequences.

Fuel smuggling remains politically sensitive in Iran as the country faces pressure from international sanctions and a weakening currency. In a bid to curb rising costs, authorities have introduced a new pricing tier for subsidised petrol, the first such change since 2019.

Iran has long treated cheap fuel as a social entitlement, making enforcement measures and price adjustments domestically contentious. Officials have not said whether the seized tanker is connected to broader policies aimed at limiting fuel losses.

Iranian authorities said they are continuing to examine the tanker and its cargo.