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Agencies

The Philippine government said Sunday it would provide assistance to 12 Filipino crew members of a tugboat seized by Iran for alleged oil smuggling.
The vessel was carrying more than 290,000 litres of gas oil, according to the head of the coast guard in the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan.
“Coast guard authorities relayed [to the Philippine Embassy in Tehran] that an investigation is ongoing on the alleged oil smuggling of the crew,” the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement.
“Once this has been established, the matter will be referred to the local court,” it added.
“The embassy is seeking further updates on the seafarers’ condition, and stands ready to provide assistance when needed.”

Iran state media said coast guard seized the boat and arrested the crew in the Strait of Hormuz waterway on Saturday.
State television aired footage of an orange and white tugboat docked at Bandar Abbas port, with at least three armed guards on board.
Major Hossein Dehaki, the coastguard chief in the southern province of Hormozgan, said the group was suspected of operating a fuel-smuggling ring and the confiscated shipment had been intercepted close to Sirik county.
The seizure comes amid tensions in the Gulf after the United States unilaterally withdrew from a nuclear deal putting curbs on Iran’s nuclear programme in return for relief from sanctions.
The escalation has seen ships mysteriously attacked, drones downed and oil tankers seized in the Strait of Hormuz – a choke point for a third of world’s seaborne oil.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps detained a “foreign tanker” in Gulf waters on July 14 for allegedly smuggling contraband fuel.
US offered ‘millions in cash’ to Indian captain of Iranian oil tanker
In the most high-profile seizure, the Guards impounded the British-flagged Stena Impero tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on July 19 for breaking “international maritime rules”.
Iran also seized another ship on July 31 with seven foreign crew on board over fuel smuggling, but it has not revealed the vessel’s identity or the nationality of its crew.
Illegal oil and gas oil smuggling from Iran to the Arab Gulf states is common in the region. While some vessels are caught by the Iranian authorities, many get through.
Iran believes organised gangs are behind the activity and has had difficulty in tracking down ring leaders.
The Philippines is one of the world’s largest providers of shipping manpower in the world.
Many of the Filipino sailors man oil tankers, luxury liners, as well as passenger and fishing vessels worldwide, exposing them to piracy attacks and sea accidents.
DPA and Agence France-Presse


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Iran

Iran seizes boat and arrest 12 Filipino crewmen in operation against suspected fuel-smuggling ring

A screen grab from an Islamic Republic of Iran News Network broadcast on Saturday shows what is said to be a boat seized in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. Photo: IRINN via AFP

An image grab taken from the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) state television channel on August 7, 2019, shows what they say are Iranian armed guards on the boat of a fuel-smuggling ring in the Strait of Hormuz that Iran seized and arrested the Filippino crew on board. - "Coast guards successfully seized a foreign ship in the Strait of Hormuz," said Major Hossein Dehaki, the coast guard chief in the southern province of Hormozgan. Dehaki said the group was suspected of operating a fuel-smuggling ring and the confiscated shipment had been intercepted close to Sirik county in the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo by - / IRINN / AFP) / / XGTY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / IRINN" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS FROM ALTERNATIVE SOURCES, AFP IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIGITAL ALTERATIONS TO THE PICTURE'S EDITORIAL CONTENT, DATE AND LOCATION WHICH CANNOT BE INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED" / NO RESALE - NO BBC PER

Iran fires up advanced centrifuges to boost its enriched uranium stockpiles, in latest nuclear step

Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi speaks during a media conference in Tehran. Photo: AFP

(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 25, 2009, Iranian technicians walk outside the building housing the reactor of Bushehr nuclear power plant at the Iranian port town of Bushehr, 1200 Kms south of the capital Tehran. - Iran has started up advanced centrifuges to boost its stockpile of enriched uranium but will allow the UN atomic agency to continue monitoring its nuclear programme, a spokesman said on September 7, 2019. (Photo by Behrouz MEHRI / AFP)

A handout picture released by Iran's Atomic Energy Organization on September 7, 2019, shows spokesman for the organization Behrouz Kamalvandi speaking during a press conference in the capital Tehran. - Iran said it has fired up advanced centrifuges to boost its enriched uranium stockpiles, in the latest scaling back of commitments under a crumbling 2015 nuclear deal. The country's Atomic Energy Organisation said, however, that it would honour commitments to give UN inspectors access to monitor its nuclear sites. (Photo by - / Atomic Energy Organization of Iran / AFP) / === RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / HO / ATOMIC ENERGY ORGANIZATION OF IRAN" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ===

(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 30, 2005, a general view of the Iranian nuclear power plant of Natanz, 270 kms south of the capital Tehran. - Iran has started up advanced centrifuges to boost its stockpile of enriched uranium but will allow the UN atomic agency to continue monitoring its nuclear programme, a spokesman said on September 7, 2019. (Photo by HENGHAMEH FAHIMI / AFP)

Iranian oil tanker sought by US spotted off the coast of Syria

A satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies appears to show the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya-1 off the coast of Tartus. Photo: AP

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2019 file photo, the super tanker Adrian Darya 1, formerly known as the Grace 1 sails in the British territory of Gibraltar. The Iranian oil tanker pursued by the U.S. is off the coast of Syria. The ship-tracking website MarineTraffic.com showed the Adrian Darya 1, slowed to a near-stop on Sunday. Sept. 1, 2019, some 50 nautical miles (92 kilometers) off Syria. The ship still does not list a destination for its 2.1 million barrels of oil, worth some $130 million. (AP Photo/Marcos Moreno, File)

Iran to release seven crew members from British-flagged tanker seized in July

Crew Members of Stena Impero, a British-flagged vessel owned by Stena Bulk, pictured off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran. Photo: Reuters

A boat of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard sails near to Stena Impero, a British-flagged vessel owned by Stena Bulk, at an undisclosed place at sea of Bandar Abbas, Iran August 22, 2019. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS. ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.

epa07812481 Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attends a press conference after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in Moscow, Russia 02 September 2019. Media reports state Zarif arrived in Moscow for talks that are expected to focus on recent developments of the 2015 nuclear deal, as well as regional issues and bilateral cooperation. EPA-EFE/YURI KOCHETKOV

FILE PHOTO: Stena Impero, a British-flagged vessel owned by Stena Bulk, is seen at undisclosed place off the coast of Bandar Abbas, Iran August 22, 2019. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS. ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY./File Photo

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Iran coast guard says vessel was carrying contraband fuel
Gulf tensions remain high, with drones downed and various ships attacked or seized in area



Coast guard says vessel was carrying contraband fuel and was suspected of being part of fuel-smuggling ring.


The Philippines

Iran seizes boat and arrest 12 Filipino crewmen in operation against suspected fuel-smuggling ring

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Iran coast guard says vessel was carrying contraband fuel Gulf tensions remain high, with drones downed and various ships attacked or seized in area

Iran coast guard says vessel was carrying contraband fuel

Gulf tensions remain high, with drones downed and various ships attacked or seized in area