Iran Seizes Eswatini-Flagged Vessel With 350,000 Litres of Smuggled Fuel — Part of Wider Crackdown at Sea

Iran Seizes Eswatini-Flagged Vessel With 350,000 Litres of Smuggled Fuel: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seize a foreign-flagged vessel carrying 350,000 litres of smuggled gasoil. The bust, targeting fuel-smuggling networks in the Gulf, underscores rising maritime tensions, energy politics, and regional law-enforcement efforts.

Iran’s armed forces have once again drawn global attention after a dramatic seizure of a foreign-flagged tanker alleged to be smuggling a massive consignment of fuel. On Sunday, November 30, 2025, authorities in Tehran confirmed that an Eswatini-flagged vessel carrying approximately 350,000 litres of smuggled gasoil was intercepted and brought to port at Bushehr on Iran’s coast.

According to the statement by a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, the vessel was seized following a judicial order. The ship’s cargo is to be unloaded, and investigations are underway. Officials noted that the crew comprised 14 people — 13 from India and one from a neighbouring country.

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This operation reflects the ongoing crackdown by Iranian authorities against maritime fuel smuggling, a phenomenon that has long plagued the Gulf region. Fuel — particularly gasoil — remains relatively cheap in Iran due to heavy subsidies, and smugglers often attempt to divert subsidized fuel to neighbouring countries where prices are higher, for profit.

The interception is not an isolated incident. Just a day earlier, Iranian officials announced the seizure of two vessels near Kish Island carrying about 80,000 litres of smuggled fuel. This demonstrates that Iran has intensified its maritime surveillance and enforcement efforts across different points in the Persian Gulf.

Iran Seizes Eswatini-Flagged Vessel With 350,000 Litres of Smuggled Fuel: Why This Matters

Economic Impact: Smuggling of subsidized fuel results in heavy economic losses for Iran. Estimates suggest that millions of litres leave the country daily through land and sea routes, costing billions of dollars in lost subsidies.

Security & Regional Stability: The Gulf and its maritime routes remain a flashpoint for geopolitical tension. Interceptions like this are likely to trigger diplomatic scrutiny — especially concerning the nationality of the crew and the destination of contraband fuel.

Maritime Law Enforcement: The seizure under judicial order emphasises Iran’s push to curb illegal fuel trade at sea. It may serve as a warning to networks that engage in smuggling via foreign-flagged “ghost” vessels or obscure shipping registries.

Broader Context: Fuel Smuggling & Shadow Fleets

Iran has frequently accused foreign-registered or foreign-flagged ships of being part of a “shadow fleet” — vessels used to transport Iranian oil or gasoil covertly, often to evade sanctions or divert subsidized fuel abroad.

The problem has been persistent for years: officials estimate that between 20–30 million litres of fuel are smuggled out of Iran daily — a staggering figure that highlights the scale of the illicit trade and the burden it places on the state’s fuel subsidy system.

Past seizures — including tankers flagged to other countries — have sometimes resulted in vessel detention, cargo confiscation, and prosecution of crew.

This latest bust follows a series of such interdictions over the past months, underscoring Tehran’s increasing vigilance.

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What Comes Next

The 350,000 litres of seized gasoil will likely be processed by Iranian authorities — possibly redirected into legitimate supply chains or sold domestically. The fate of the vessel and crew remains under investigation.

Regional shipping companies and operators may face heightened scrutiny, especially those registering vessels under foreign flags (i.e., “flags of convenience”) to avoid detection.

International response: Given the multinational nature of shipping, this incident could prompt diplomatic dialogues, especially with countries from which crew members hail.

Iran Seizes Eswatini-Flagged Vessel With 350,000 Litres of Smuggled Fuel: Final Thoughts

The seizure of the Eswatini-flagged vessel — carrying 350,000 litres of gasoil — puts a spotlight on the shadowy world of maritime fuel smuggling in the Persian Gulf. It isn’t just an isolated bust; it is an indicator of larger economic pressures, enforcement drives, and the complicated geopolitics surrounding energy, shipping, and regional stability. For global energy markets, for Tehran’s economy, and for maritime law enforcement, the ripple effects may be significant.