Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Thursday (February 6), just hours before scheduled high-stakes talks between U.S. and Iranian officials in Oman.

The IRGC claimed the vessels were intercepted near Farsi Island carrying approximately one million liters of smuggled fuel. Iranian authorities detained 15 foreign crew members and referred them to judicial authorities.

"The vessels had been operating within a smuggling network over the past several months and were intercepted through monitoring, intelligence work, and IRGC naval operations," Iranian state media reported. The nationalities and destinations of the tankers have not been disclosed by Iranian officials.

The seizures come amid escalating tensions and hostile rhetoric from Iranian officials. Former Iranian minister and ex-state broadcaster chief Ezzatollah Zarghami issued alarming threats regarding the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and petroleum products pass.

"I am sure that the Strait of Hormuz will be the place of massacre and hell for the U.S.," Zarghami said Thursday. "Iran will show that the Strait of Hormuz has historically belonged to Iran. The only thing the Americans can think of is playing with their vessels and moving them from one place to another."

Despite the provocative actions and rhetoric, the planned talks between U.S. and Iranian officials are still scheduled to proceed on Friday in Oman. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will represent the United States after completing two days of talks related to Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday that the talks remain on schedule, stating "diplomacy is always President Trump's first option."

The tensions come several months after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities during Israel's 12-day assault on Iran in June. U.S. officials have consistently sought to halt Iran's nuclear program, curb ballistic missile production, and stop Iran's arming of regional militias.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated last week that "Iran's missiles and defense systems will never be the subject of any negotiations," considering them critical to national security. Meanwhile, President Trump has reportedly warned Iran it is running out of time to make a deal, with his administration considering options for potential military action.

Iranian military spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia claimed that several U.S. military assets in the Gulf region are "within the range of our medium-range missiles."

Armstrong & Getty