Iranian judicial officials have announced the seizure of a foreign oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman and the arrest of 18 crew members, accused of "smuggling millions of liters of fuel." The tanker was captured on Friday while reportedly carrying approximately six million liters of illicit fuel.

Iran's regime has a history of seizing vessels in the Persian Gulf, primarily accusing detained tankers of smuggling fuel, a claim that has not been substantiated with evidence. An example includes the seizure of the foreign tanker "Talara" on November 23, shortly after reports emerged about a tanker deviating from its course from the UAE towards Iranian waters. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the seizure of the tanker carrying about 30,000 tons of petrochemical cargo destined for Singapore, based on "unclear violations."

Associated Press reported that a tanker passing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz suddenly changed its course and entered Iranian territorial waters. The British military warned that this incident may involve "government action."

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) revealed that smaller vessels had previously stopped the tanker. This aligns with information regarding the "Talara," flagged from the Marshall Islands, which was traveling from Ajman, UAE, to Singapore.

Maritime tracking data indicates that the ship abruptly changed direction towards Iran without explanation. Iran's history of seizing vessels during tensions with the West raises speculation that the IRGC orchestrated this action.