By Alex Longley

November 19, 2025 – An oil tanker that was captured by Iranian forces last week has now been released, but it does not have its cargo, according to the ship’s manager.

The crew of the Talara, taken on Friday, are safe and doing well, stated Columbia Shipmanagement. The ship was transporting high-sulfur gasoil when it was seized and is now sailing without cargo, a condition referred to as "ballast."

This incident marks the first time since April 2024 that Iran has seized a ship in the vital Strait of Hormuz, sparking concerns that Iran may be targeting commercial vessels as a reaction to Israel and its Western allies. However, Iranian state media reported that the ship was detained for unclear violations.

The Talara was captured by helicopter and brought to the Iranian coast, according to Western military forces in the area. The specific nature of the alleged violations remains unknown, and Columbia has stated that there were no accusations made against the ship, its crew, or its management.

Vessel tracking data from Bloomberg indicates that the ship was departing from Iranian waters early Wednesday. Its draft decreased, suggesting that some of the oil on board has been offloaded.

(Updates on the cargo status will be provided as available.)