Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed on Saturday the seizure of a tanker in Gulf waters intended for Singapore due to alleged violations, as reported by Iranian state media. The tanker, named the Talara and flagged in the Marshall Islands, was said to be carrying petrochemicals and high-sulfur gas oil from the United Arab Emirates to Singapore. The vessel was intercepted by Iranian forces and diverted into Iranian territorial waters.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the tanker was in violation for carrying unauthorized cargo, without specifying the exact nature of the violations. The tanker’s manager, Columbia Shipmanagement, lost contact with the vessel off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and is collaborating with relevant parties to reestablish communication. The ship is owned by Pasha Finance, based in Cyprus.
This incident marks the first reported tanker seizure by Iran since the Israeli-U.S. strikes in June. The U.S. military confirmed awareness of the situation and stated that it is actively monitoring developments. While Iran has previously seized commercial vessels in the Gulf citing various maritime violations, the recent incident was unexpected, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Iran had reportedly reduced its maritime activities following the Israeli bombing campaign in June, with its last reported vessel seizure occurring in April 2024.
