Iran confirms seizure of oil tanker in Gulf of Oman
IRAN has confirmed that it seized a tanker on November 14 in the Strait of Hormuz.
The 2010-built, Marshall Islands-flagged, 73,371 dwt crude oil tanker Talara (IMO: 9569994) left Hamriyah in the UAE on Thursday.
While sailing towards Singapore through the Gulf of Oman, at 0822 hrs local time on Friday, November 14, the vessel made a sudden course deviation 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan.
It is now confirmed that the vessel was forced to Iranian waters by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
The IRGC said in a statement that their units “tracked and seized the vessel following a judicial order to confiscate its cargo” to “protect national interests” and directed it to an Iranian anchorage “for investigation into violations”.
The statement added that a primary inspection of the cargo “found the vessel to be in breach for transporting unauthorised goods”. Further details will follow after a full review of documents “under legal authority”, it added.
The IRGC-affiliated Iranian Fars news agency claimed that the ship was carrying “30,000 tonnes of petrochemical products owned by Iran that were being transferred illegally to Singapore”.
A security source told Lloyd’s List that a US Navy drone was present at the time and observed the incident. According to the source, no casualties or damage were reported, and the reasons remain unclear amid regional tensions.
US Central Command released a statement, saying that Talara was seized after being boarded by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces that arrived by helicopter.
“Iran’s use of military forces to conduct an armed boarding and seizure of a commercial vessel in international waters constitutes a blatant violation of international law, undermining freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce,” the statement continued, calling on Iran “to articulate to the international community the legal basis for its actions.”
It said that it would continue to remain vigilant and work alongside their partners and allies in the region.
The vessel is owned by the Greece-based Coronis Family Group of Companies. In a statement to Lloyd’s List, its technical manager Columbia Shipmanagement confirmed that it had lost contact with Talara.
“The vessel, carrying a cargo of high-sulphur gasoil, was transiting the Indian Ocean during its passage from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates to Singapore when contact was lost at around 0822 local time on Friday, 14 November, 2025 approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast of Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates.”
Columbia added that it had notified the relevant authorities and was working closely with all relevant parties, including maritime security agencies and the vessel owner to restore contact with the vessel.
“The safety of the crew remains our foremost priority,” the statement said.
Maritime security firm Ambrey advised the merchant vessels to “remain vigilant while transiting the Strait of Hormuz and to report any suspicious activity immediately”.
UKMTO also advised vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity. In a note, UKMTO Joint Maritime Information Center said that the IRGC Navy confirmed the seizure, stating it was carried out following a judicial order to "safeguard the interests and resources of the Iranian nation" and that the vessel was involved in the transport of "unauthorized goods”.
JMIC noted no changes in “threat to shipping engaged in legitimate trade”.
Iran had threatened to close off the Strait of Hormuz in the past, as a retaliation to sanctions by the US and the European countries, and seized vessels sailing through.
The last time such an incident happened was in April 2024 when Iran’s Revolutionary Guards hijacked the Mediterranean Shipping Co-chartered boxship MSC Aries (IMO: 9857169) as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
Special naval forces boarded the vessel by helicopter as it was sailing for the Indian port of Nhava Sheva, and was taken to Iranian territorial waters.
That was considered as a response to Israel’s air strike that destroyed Iran’s consulate in Damascus at the beginning of April last year.
Iran threatened to close off the Strait of Hormuz again during the war with Israel in June. About 20% of globally traded oil passes through the narrow strait that opens up the Middle East Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
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