MONDAY 5 AUGUST 2019

Iran ‘seizes Iraqi oil tanker’

Ship was allegedly smuggling fuel through Persian Gulf

An IRGC member aboard ‘Stena Impero’ which was taken by Iran last month (AFP)

OLIVIA ALABASTER

Iran has seized an Iraqi oil tanker allegedly “smuggling fuel” to unspecified Arab states, according to state
media.

“The IRGC’s naval forces have seized a foreign oil tanker in the Persian Gulf that was smuggling fuel for
some Arab countries,” Press TV reported, referring to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and quoting IRGC
commander Ramezan Zirahi as saying.

The vessel was carrying 700,000l of fuel and seven sailors, the TV station added, who have been detained.
The news agency reported that the ship was seized near Farsi Island, where an Iranian Guard navy base is
located. The island sits in the Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Iran, north of the Strait of Hormuz.

World