The IRGC, along with British security firm Ambrey, announced on Monday that the IRGC had intercepted a tanker flying the flag of Togo, but managed by UAE, carrying 1,500 tonnes of marine gas oil.

Ambrey reported that the vessel was carrying marine gas oil and was headed for Sharjah in the UAE when it was intercepted Sunday. It was located 61 nautical mile southwest of Iran’s Bushehr port.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards' Navy confirmed the seizure in a press release quoted by Iran's official news agency. The statement said "the tanker had been systematically involved in fuel smuggling... and was captured in the depths off Bushehr's coastline by judicial orders."

The statement quoted by the agency said that "the vessel and its 12 crew members, of Indian and Sri Lankan citizenship, have been transferred to Bushehr Anchorage and are under supervision."

Iran has been fighting fuel smuggling on land and at sea, both to Gulf Arab countries and neighbouring countries, despite its low fuel prices.

Ambrey said that it is unlikely the incident was politically motivated, and more likely a countersmuggling effort.