Iran seizes another tanker in the Gulf, media say

Iran has seized another foreign tanker in the Gulf, Iranian state media say.

A Revolutionary Guard Corps commander was quoted as saying it was "smuggling fuel for some Arab countries".

The commander said the tanker was carrying 700,000l of fuel, adding that seven sailors had been detained. Later reports said the captured ship was Iraqi.

The reported incident comes amid high tension 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.

Iran has previously accused ships of smuggling fuel. On 13 July the Iranian coastguard detained the Panama-flagged MT Riah.

The Revolutionary Guards' Sepah News site said at the time that the ship was seized during naval patrols aimed at "discovering and confronting organised smuggling".