Tanzania has denied any involvement in the seizure of two oil tankers by Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which were allegedly carrying smuggled fuel worth $1.3 million. The tankers, Sea Ranger and Salama, were intercepted near the port city of Bushehr in the Persian Gulf while attempting to leave Iran's territorial waters.

Initially, the vessels were linked to Tanzania, but the Tanzanian government has clarified that they were no longer registered under the Tanzanian flag at the time of their detention. This has sparked an ownership dispute, with speculation that the tankers were involved in illicit activities. The Tanzanian government emphasized that it had previously deregistered the vessels and was not involved in the incident.

The seized fuel, totaling 1.5 million liters of diesel, was labeled as smuggled and will be redistributed within Iran. The 25 foreign crew members on board were handed over to local authorities at Bushehr port for further legal action. This incident is the latest in a series of similar cases, with the Revolutionary Guards having seized several vessels in recent weeks, including one carrying over 4.25 million liters of smuggled fuel and another transporting 1.7 million liters.

The captains and deputies of these vessels received prison sentences and hefty fines for their involvement in illegal fuel transport. The situation has drawn significant international attention due to its implications for maritime security and regional tensions in the Persian Gulf. General Masoud Forootan, Deputy Commander of the IRGC's Second Naval Zone, issued a stern warning, stating, "Your criminal activities will not escape the sharp eyes of the IRGC Navy, and we will deal decisively with violators."

This incident highlights the ongoing efforts of Iran's Revolutionary Guards to crack down on fuel smuggling in the region. According to General Forootan, the IRGC has confiscated a total of 4.5 million liters of smuggled diesel fuel this year alone. The incident also raises questions about the effectiveness of maritime security measures in the Persian Gulf and the need for greater cooperation between regional authorities to combat fuel smuggling.

The implications of this incident extend beyond the region, with potential consequences for global energy markets and trade relations. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Tanzania and Iran will resolve the ownership dispute and what measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.