The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Iranian Intelligence Ministry seized a foreign ship carrying smuggled fuel in the Persian Gulf and detained all its crew.

The commander of the IRGC Navy’s second command zone General Ramezan Zirahi said that Iranian forces have seized a foreign vessel for smuggling thousands of liters of diesel in the Persian Gulf region and arrested the entire crew members. 

He noted that in a joint operation, the IRGC Navy and forces of the intelligence department of Iran’s Southern province of Bushehr, had confiscated the foreign vessel carrying 757,000 liters of diesel out of the country.

The commander added that the vessel intended to deliver the smuggled cargo to other countries but was seized 60 miles off the coast of Iran.

“The vessel’s seven crew members, who are foreign nationals, have been handed over to judicial authorities,” Zirahi said, and added the campaign against organized smuggling of fuel is among priorities of the IRGC Navy in order to support national production and a dynamic economy.

“The IRGC naval forces have confiscated 1,555,000 liters of diesel in the Persian Gulf since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21). They have also arrested 44 smugglers and handed them over to judicial officials,” the commander continued.

The incident comes after a series of seizures of smuggler vessels by Iranian navy forces in the sea lanes serving the Persian Gulf, where a large portion of the world’s oil is produced and shipped.

The IRGC’s Navy has also managed to several attacks on both Iranian and foreign tankers.

Back in May, Iranian Army’s Deputy Commander for Coordination Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said that the country’s naval forces have succeeded in escorting and protecting the security of nearly 5,000 oil tankers and cargo ships so far.

The Iranian naval forces have succeeded in escorting and protecting almost 5,000 oil tankers and commercial ships in international waters since 2008, Rear Admiral Sayyari stated.

The Iranian Navy, he added, has also thwarted numerous pirate attacks to secure the safe passage of the ships in Iran’s territorial waters.

The advanced capabilities of Iran’s armed forces show the country’s great and exemplary power, Rear Admiral Sayyari stressed, adding that the country’s armed forces are “able to defend the interests of the Islamic Republic [even] at a distance of 2,500 km off Iran’s coasts”.

He said that country has managed to reach such levels of power and dominance that it will not hesitate to give the “harshest response” to even the slightest threats.

“Wherever the interests of the Islamic [Republic] are in danger, we stand firm and defend our interests,” the commander stressed.