IRGC Seizes Marshall Islands–Flagged Tanker Near UAE

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized a fuel-carrying commercial vessel near the coast of the United Arab Emirates and redirected it toward Iranian waters,

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized a fuel-carrying commercial vessel near the coast of the United Arab Emirates and redirected it toward Iranian waters, according to maritime monitoring sources cited by Reuters. The vessel, the MT Talara, sails under the Marshall Islands flag and had departed Khorfakkan port in the Emirate of Sharjah en route to Singapore. The ship’s management company reported that it lost contact with its crew at around 8:30 a.m. local time, shortly after the IRGC allegedly intercepted the vessel. Neither Iran nor the UAE has issued an official response to the reports.

The Associated Press, quoting a U.S. Defense Department official speaking anonymously, reported that Iranian forces “seized” the Talara and that the tanker was moving toward Iranian territorial waters. AP also noted that a U.S. Navy drone was operating above the area at the time and had witnessed the interception. The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, confirmed awareness of the incident, writing on its official X account that it is “actively monitoring” the situation and reiterating that commercial vessels have the right to free and unobstructed navigation in international waters.

The Talara seizure adds a new maritime flashpoint to an already volatile security situation in the region. It remains unclear whether the seizure was triggered by any preceding incident, and how other actors including the United States may respond.