Britain Seizes Iranian Oil Tanker Bound for Syria
Jul 4, 2019 23:30:32 GMT -5
Post by Midnight on Jul 4, 2019 23:30:32 GMT -5
Tehran lashes out at Britain for seizing Iranian oil tanker bound for Syria
Marks 1st time EU has seized vessel for violating sanctions against Syria
Thomson Reuters · Posted: Jul 04, 2019 8:05 AM ET | Last Updated: 4 hours ago
The Gibraltar authorities who seized the Grace 1 oil tanker did so under the authority of EU sanctions against Syria that have been in place for years. (Reuters)
British Royal Marines seized a giant Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar on Thursday for trying to take oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions, a dramatic step that drew Tehran's fury and could escalate its confrontation with the West.
The Grace 1 tanker was impounded in the British territory on the southern tip of Spain after sailing around Africa, the long route from the Middle East to the mouth of the Mediterranean.
Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the British ambassador to voice "its very strong objection to the illegal and unacceptable seizure" of its ship. The diplomatic gesture lifted any doubt over Iran's ownership of the vessel, which flies a Panama flag and is listed as managed by a company in Singapore.
Panama's Maritime Authority said on Thursday that Grace 1 was no longer listed in Panama's international boat registry as of May 29.
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton said the British move was "excellent news."
"America & our allies will continue to prevent regimes in Tehran & Damascus from profiting off this illicit trade," Bolton said on Twitter.
John Bolton
✔
@ambjohnbolton
Excellent news: UK has detained the supertanker Grace I laden with Iranian oil bound for Syria in violation of EU sanctions. America & our allies will continue to prevent regimes in Tehran & Damascus from profiting off this illicit trade.
4,938
4:22 PM - Jul 4, 2019
Twitter Ads info and privacy
1,981 people are talking about this
Shipping data reviewed by Reuters suggests the tanker was carrying Iranian oil loaded off the coast of Iran, although its documents say the oil is from neighbouring Iraq.
While Europe has banned oil shipments to Syria since 2011, it had never seized a tanker at sea. Unlike the United States, Europe does not have broad sanctions against Iran.
"This is the first time that the EU has done something so public and so aggressive. I imagine it was also co-ordinated in some manner with the U.S. given that NATO member forces have been involved," said Matthew Oresman, a partner with law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman who advises firms on sanctions.
Full story at link