WANA (Aug 11) – Iranian border guards, in cooperation with the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have seized a tanker carrying more than 2 million liters of smuggled diesel fuel in the country’s exclusive waters near the port of Jask, officials announced.

 

Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, commander of Iran’s Border Guard, said the operation was launched after intelligence monitoring and aerial surveillance revealed that major fuel smuggling networks planned to transfer a large quantity of diesel beyond Iran’s maritime borders.

 

The tanker, named Phoenix and sailing under the flag of a third country, was intercepted 23 nautical miles off the coast near Kuh-e Mobarak.

 

During the inspection, authorities discovered 2,030,755 liters of smuggled diesel fuel on board. Seventeen foreign nationals suspected of involvement in the operation were arrested and transferred to Jask for legal proceedings.

 

According to experts, the cargo’s estimated value is 759 billion rials (approximately $14 million). Goudarzi stressed that Iranian border forces, working in close coordination with other branches of the armed forces, are delivering heavy blows to organized smuggling networks, preventing profiteers from exploiting the country’s resources.

Iran Seizes Tanker with 2 Million Liters of Smuggled Fuel. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Iran Seizes Tanker with 2 Million Liters of Smuggled Fuel. Social media/ WANA News Agency