Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it will closely follow up on the situation of four Egyptians working on an oil tanker owned by Iranian authorities after a distress video posted by an Egyptian sailor went viral on social media.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati instructed the consular sector and Egyptians abroad to rapidly follow developments and take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of Egyptian citizens and their safe return to their homeland.
This came after a video clip circulated on social media showing Egyptian sailors aboard the Reem Al Khaleej, a ship detained by Iranian authorities at the port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, off Qeshm Island in the Arabian Gulf.
Egypt’s urgent move
Ambassador Hamdi Al-Ghohari, Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs and Egyptians Abroad, said his ministry had instructed the Egyptian Interests Division in Tehran to immediately contact the competent Iranian authorities, and that initial contact confirmed that four Egyptians were on board the ship Reem Al-Khalij, which was detained at the port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.
Ambassador Al-Ghokhari added that members of the Egyptian Interests Section in Tehran were tasked to immediately go to Bandar Abbas port to provide the four sailors with the necessary consular and legal support and expedite the process of their release and return to Egypt.
Iranian authorities seized the Reem Al Khaleej over a month ago and charged it with “petroleum raw material smuggling.” According to some sources, the imposed fine is estimated to be around US$14 million.
The incident comes amid repeated tensions in the Arabian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has seized several foreign oil tankers over the past few years on similar charges related to maritime violations and international sanctions.
a loud cry for help
According to a distress call issued by a senior Egyptian naval officer on board the seized ship on December 23, 2025, the ship was crossing the Strait of Hormuz, an international shipping route, with an official oil cargo issued by the Emirate of Sharjah and approved legal documents, while also receiving a cargo of petroleum raw materials from another ship belonging to the same ownership company, within the framework of normal and legitimate commercial procedures.
He pointed out that Iranian authorities entered the vessel into Iranian territorial waters on suspicion of smuggling activities and seized all petroleum raw materials on board.
He explained that Iranian authorities have imposed fines amounting to $14 million and $3.5 million for each of the ship’s crew members and demanded that the ownership company pay the amount or the sailors will face prison terms.
He noted that the captain had contacted the owner company and reported that they had a lawyer in charge of crisis management, but as of yesterday it had become clear that the fine had become official and final and that he was at immediate risk of imprisonment if unpaid.
At the end of their appeal for help, the seafarers and their families sent an urgent appeal to the Egyptian authorities, demanding intervention to protect them, stressing that they are not at fault in any legal or commercial dispute, and that their continued detention is a threat to their future and security.
