Fuel Tanker Diverted in Strait of Hormuz Amid Fears of Iranian Seizure

A Marshall Islands-flagged fuel tanker en route to Singapore lost contact with its managers in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday morning, sparking concerns of a possible seizure by Iran. The vessel is owned by the Greece-based Coronis Family Group of Companies. The company has not responded to requests for comment.

British maritime authorities reported the vessel was last tracked heading toward Iranian territorial waters, describing the incident as likely involving "state activity," though no specific actor was named.

Later, Telegram channels linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps claimed Iranian naval forces had seized the ship—identified as traveling from Dubai to Singapore—for entering Iranian waters. No official statement has been issued by Iranian authorities.

The U.S. Central Command confirmed it was monitoring the situation, emphasizing that commercial vessels are entitled to unimpeded navigation rights, but stopped short of confirming state involvement.

The tanker, named Talara, measures approximately 750 feet long and 105 feet wide, according to marine traffic data. It departed the United Arab Emirates carrying high-sulfur gas oil, a fuel commonly used in shipping.

Maritime security firm Ambrey issued a warning, saying that a Marshall Islands-flagged crude oil tanker that had previously been approached by three small boats while transiting southbound through the Strait of Hormuz was observed making a sudden course deviation at the same location.

Ambrey said that the incident was likely highly targeted and advised the merchant vessels to “remain vigilant while transiting the Strait of Hormuz and to report any suspicious activity immediately”.

The vessel is managed by Cyprus-based Columbia Shipmanagement, which stated it had alerted relevant authorities and was working to reestablish contact.

Iran has a history of seizing tankers in the Persian Gulf, though no such incident in the Strait of Hormuz has occurred in over a year. Past seizures have been justified as retaliation, responses to alleged territorial violations, or crackdowns on oil smuggling.

The Strait of Hormuz—a critical 90-mile chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman—handles about 25% of global oil trade and 20% of liquefied natural gas. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the waterway during periods of heightened tension.

Iran currently faces severe domestic challenges, including water and power shortages, a massive budget deficit, and renewed U.N. sanctions over its nuclear program. Its regional proxy networks have been significantly weakened, and its military leadership suffered major losses in a June conflict with Israel, during which the U.S. conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Reporting contributed by Farnaz Fassihi.