Egypt Seeks Release Of 4 Seafarers Held After Iran Captures Tanker For Fuel Smuggling

Egypt is working to secure the release of four of its citizens who remain detained after Iranian authorities seized a foreign tanker last month over alleged fuel smuggling in the Gulf.

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that the four Egyptian nationals were crew members aboard the tanker Reem Al-Khaleej, which is currently being held at Bandar Abbas, a port in southern Iran.

The vessel was intercepted near Qeshm Island.

The ministry said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had instructed consular officials to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of the detained seafarers and to continue efforts to secure their release.

Egypt’s Interests Section in Tehran, which handles consular matters due to the absence of full diplomatic relations, is following the case.

An official from the Interests Section has been sent to Bandar Abbas to provide legal and consular assistance to the crew and to follow up with Iranian authorities.

The four Egyptians remain on board the vessel as legal proceedings continue.

Iran said last month that it had seized a foreign oil tanker carrying around four million litres of smuggled fuel near Qeshm Island.

At the time, Iranian authorities did not identify the vessel or disclose its nationality but said 16 foreign crew members had been detained on criminal charges.

Shipping data later showed that the tanker was the 5,600-dwt Reem Al-Khaleej, built in 2006 and sailing under the Palau flag.

The vessel docked at Bandar Abbas around a month ago. It is operated by UAE-based Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management, which was sanctioned by the United States on 18 December for operating in Iran’s petroleum sector.

The crew member said he was a senior naval officer and that he and three other Egyptians were detained in December.

He denied the smuggling accusations, stating that the vessel was travelling from Sharjah to Khor Fakkan in the United Arab Emirates when it was intercepted.

According to the crew member, the crew was transferred to Iran and fined a total of $14 million. He said the operating company had hired a lawyer, but the case had not progressed and that imprisonment could follow if the fine was not paid.