Iran ‘seizes Iraqi tanker in Gulf for smuggling fuel’

(FASTNEWS|COLOMBO) -Iran has seized another foreign tanker in the Gulf, state media reports claim.

Iranian forces seized the Iraqi ship for “smuggling fuel for some Arab countries” and detained seven sailors, according to the reports.

Iraq’s oil ministry has said it has no connection to the seized vessel and that it is working to gather information about it.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions after the US tightened sanctions on Iran’s oil sector.

The sanctions were reimposed after Washington’s unilateral withdrawal from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal.

If confirmed, the Iraqi tanker would be the third foreign vessel to have been seized by Iran in recent weeks. (BBC)