‘Declare IRGC Terrorists’: Israel Demands After Iran Guards Confirm Seizure Of Oil Tanker

Last Updated:November 16, 2025, 02:04 IST

Gideon Sa’ar urged the “free world” to declare “the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization”.

US officials were among the first to confirm that Iranian forces diverted the Marshall Islands–flagged Talara into territorial waters as it sailed from Ajman to Singapore. (IMAGE: X/@sentdefender)

After the Iranian Revolutionary Guards confirmed that they seized a Marshall Island-flagged oil tanker in the Strait Of Hormuz, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Friday urged the international community to declare the Iranian guards a terrorist organisation.

Earlier, a report by the state-run Irna news agency carried a statement by the Revolutionary Guard that said the tanker was taken to Iranian waters. It did not elaborate on the “illegal consignment,” the crew or say where the ship was now heading.

It said the seizure came following a court order and the operation was aimed at “protecting Iran’s national interests and resources.” It identified the oil tanker as the Talara and said it was carrying 30,000 tons of petrochemical products.

The seizure happened on Friday.

The Iranian guards have told the state-run news outlet that they seized the tanker over violations including carrying an illegal consignment.

They added that the ship had been en route to Singapore when Iranian forces intercepted.

But, private security firm, Ambrey, described the assault as involving three small boats.

A US Navy MQ-4C Triton drone had been circling above the area where the Talara was for hours on Friday observing the seizure, flight-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center separately acknowledged the incident, saying a possible “state activity” forced the Talara to turn into Iranian territorial waters.

Meanwhile, in his social media post, the Israeli Foreign Minister called Iran a pirate state and a threat to the West Asia. “Just like their protégés, the Houthis, Iran is acting as a pirate state and terrorizing naval routes. Iran is a threat not only to the Middle East but to world peace and global trade. I call on the free world to immediately declare the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization,” Sa’ar said.

General About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has covered se…Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has covered se…

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