Iran’s judiciary said it impounded a foreign-flagged oil tanker in the Sea of Oman on Wednesday after officials found the vessel was carrying about two million liters (roughly 528,000 gallons) of smuggled fuel without proper documentation. Mojtaba Ghahremani, chief justice of southern Hormozgan Province, stated that 17 people—including the ship’s captain—were arrested and a case has been opened at the Jask county prosecutor’s office. Authorities are testing the cargo, verifying paperwork and have not yet disclosed the tanker’s flag or intended destination. Tehran subsidises domestic fuel, making maritime smuggling lucrative, and has repeatedly intercepted vessels it says are involved in the trade. In April, Iranian forces detained two Tanzanian-flagged tankers in the Gulf for similar reasons, underscoring continued tension along key shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz.