TEHRAN: A foreign vessel carrying 1.45 million liters of smuggled fuel has been seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.
The vessel’s crew of 10 people have been detained, Tasnim cited Mehdi Mehrangiz, the chief justice of the southwestern province of Bushehr, as saying. He did not provide any details about the nationality of the crew members.
Judicial authorities are currently reviewing the case to determine the appropriate punishment for the crew members, said Mehrangiz. The vessel was en route to one of the Gulf countries, he said.
Iran, known for having some of the lowest fuel prices globally due to significant subsidies and the devaluation of its national currency, has been grappling with rampant smuggling of fuel across its borders to neighboring countries and through sea routes to Gulf states.
Meanwhile, People who encourage women to remove the hijab will be prosecuted in criminal courts and will have no right of appeal against any conviction, Iran’s deputy attorney general was quoted as saying on Saturday.
His comments come as an increasing number of women have been defying Iran’s compulsory dress code, appearing unveiled in malls, restaurants, shops, streets, and other public areas. Several female celebrities and activists have also in recent months posted photos of themselves on social media without the veil. Iranian police on Saturday installed cameras in public places to identify and penalize unveiled women, Iranian media reported. –Agencies
