Iran Frees Marshall Islands‑Flagged Tanker Talara and Its 21 Crew After Detention

Iran on Wednesday released the Marshall Islands‑flagged tanker Talara and all 21 crew members, the vessel’s managers said, days after Iranian forces detained the ship without offering an explanation. Tehran did not immediately comment on the release.

Cyprus‑based Columbia Shipmanagement, which manages the tanker, said the crew "are safe and in good spirits," that families had been notified, and that "the vessel is now free to resume normal operations." The company added that there were "no allegations against the vessel, her crew and the vessel’s managers and owners."

Ship‑tracking data from maritime monitoring services show the Talara steaming away from Iranian waters after its release. The vessel had been seized on Friday while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow outlet from the Persian Gulf through which roughly 20% of the world’s traded oil passes. The tanker was en route from Ajman in the United Arab Emirates to Singapore.

Context

The incident comes amid heightened regional tensions following a recent 12‑day flare-up between Iran‑aligned groups and Israel and ongoing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. U.S. officials have previously blamed Iran for a string of maritime attacks that included limpet‑mine incidents in 2019 and a 2021 drone strike on an Israeli‑linked oil tanker that killed two European crew members.

Iran has also detained foreign‑flagged vessels in recent years: in May 2022 it held two Greek tankers for several months, and in April 2024 it seized the Portuguese‑flagged cargo ship MSC Aries. Those episodes were later overshadowed by a wave of Iranian‑backed Houthi attacks on ships tied to the Israel‑Hamas war in Gaza, which sharply reduced traffic through the Red Sea corridor.

At present, Columbia Shipmanagement says the Talara is free to resume normal operations and the crew remain accounted for and in good health.