Tensions in the Gulf waters escalated once again after the United States Central Command confirmed that Iranian forces seized a commercial oil tanker while it was passing through international waters in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the US military, members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the vessel, identified as the MV Talara, by helicopter before carrying out an armed boarding operation. The tanker, registered under the Marshall Islands flag, was then diverted into Iranian territorial waters.
Washington denounced the move as a serious breach of international law, warning that such actions threaten freedom of navigation and global trade. The US called on Tehran to explain the legal grounds for the seizure and vowed to continue working with allies to safeguard shipping routes in the region.
Iranian outlets later acknowledged the incident, claiming the tanker was carrying unauthorized petrochemical cargo bound for Singapore. The IRGC’s naval command described the operation as necessary to protect national interests and prevent smuggling.
This latest episode adds to a series of maritime confrontations in recent years. In 2024, Iran detained the oil tanker Nicholas in the Sea of Oman and later seized the container ship MSC Aries, citing links to Israel. In 2025, several more vessels were intercepted on allegations of fuel smuggling, including the Star One and Vantage tankers earlier this year.
Analysts say Iran’s repeated seizures serve both as a crackdown on smuggling and as a strategic pressure tool in one of the world’s busiest energy corridors. The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint where regional disputes quickly spill into global concerns over trade and energy security.