Nov. 15: Iran’s IRGC says it seized the Marshall Islands‑flagged tanker Talara after a court ordered the ship held. The vessel was reportedly carrying about 30,000 tons of high‑sulphur gas oil bound for Singapore, and Columbia Shipmanagement has said it lost contact with the tanker. U.S. Central Command is "actively monitoring" the incident, which underscores the risks to shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Iran says the action was taken to protect national interests; international concerns center on navigation rights and regional stability.
Iran's IRGC Seizes Marshall Islands‑Flagged Tanker Talara Carrying 30,000 Tons of Fuel
Nov. 15: Iran’s IRGC says it seized the Marshall Islands‑flagged tanker Talara after a court ordered the ship held. The vessel was reportedly carrying about 30,000 tons of high‑sulphur gas oil bound for Singapore, and Columbia Shipmanagement has said it lost contact with the tanker. U.S. Central Command is "actively monitoring" the incident, which underscores the risks to shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Iran says the action was taken to protect national interests; international concerns center on navigation rights and regional stability.
06:54 AM, 11/16/2025Security
Iran Seizes Marshall Islands‑Flagged Tanker Talara
Date: Nov. 15 — Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Saturday that its navy has seized the Marshall Islands‑flagged fuel tanker Talara, which was reportedly en route to Singapore from the United Arab Emirates.
The IRGC Navy said the ship was carrying about 30,000 tons of petrochemical cargo and had been under surveillance following a court order for its seizure issued Friday morning, according to IRNA, Iran's state news agency.
Authorities described the cargo as "unauthorized" high‑sulphur gas oil (HSFO), a heavy fuel commonly used by ships and other marine vessels. Iranian officials said three small surface craft intercepted the Talara as it sailed south through the Strait of Hormuz, with Al Jazeera and the BBC among outlets reporting the action.
"This operation was carried out successfully in accordance with legal duties and for the purpose of safeguarding the national interests and resources of the Islamic Republic of Iran and under the orders of judicial authorities," the IRGC Navy said in a statement.
Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd., the tanker’s Cyprus‑based operator, acknowledged the vessel and its cargo and said it had lost contact with the Talara, Al Jazeera reported.
U.S. Central Command officials told the New York Times that they were aware of the seizure and are "actively monitoring" the situation, stressing that "commercial vessels are entitled to largely unimpeded rights of navigation." The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet regularly patrols the area to help protect commercial shipping.
Regional significance
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital waterway linking the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. Roughly one quarter of the world’s oil and about one fifth of global liquefied natural gas shipments transit the strait, meaning disruptions can have wider implications for global energy markets and maritime security. Iran has previously seized other vessels for alleged illicit cargoes or in response to foreign seizures of Iranian ships.
Sources: IRNA, Al Jazeera, BBC, The New York Times.