Iran seizes third foreign ship in less than a month

TEHRAN: Iran has seized a “foreign vessel” in the Gulf, state media said Sunday, in what would be the third such seizure in a month amid heightened tensions with its foe the United States.

Naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps “seized this ship around Farsi Island which was carrying around 700,000 litres of smuggled fuel”, said a Guards statement quoted by the official news agency IRNA.

Seven foreign crew members were arrested during the operation which was carried out on Wednesday night, according to Fars news agency, which is considered close to the Guards.

Tensions between arch-enemies Iran and the United States have soared this year after Washington stepped up its campaign of “maximum pressure” against the Islamic republic.