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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps mentioned on Friday that its naval forces within the Persian Gulf had seized two oil tankers belonging to Greece.
The ships have been seized in retaliation for Greece impounding an oil tanker in April carrying Iranian oil close to its shore, with the seizure carried out on the request of america, in line with reviews in two semiofficial Iranian information companies, Tasnim and Fars Information, that are affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards.
The cargo of Iranian oil was then handed over to america for being in violation of American sanctions that ban Iran from promoting its oil, in line with the information companies, a declare that would not be independently verified.
Greece’s Overseas Ministry mentioned in a press release that Iran’s motion was “tantamount to acts of piracy” and would have a unfavourable impression on Iran-Greece relations in addition to Iran’s relations with the European Union, of which Greece is a member. It suggested its residents to not journey to Iran.
An Iranian navy helicopter landed on a vessel, the Delta Poseidon, which was crusing within the Persian Gulf and flying with the Greek flag, and armed males “captured the ship’s crew,” together with two Greek residents, in line with Greece’s international ministry.
One other Greek-flagged ship that was near Iran’s coast was additionally seized in the same method and 7 Greek residents have been onboard, the ministry mentioned in a press release. Iranian media recognized the second vessel because the Prudent Warrior and mentioned it had lately anchored in Basra, Iraq, and was carrying Iraqi oil.
A marine monitoring web site, MarineTraffic.com, mentioned each vessels had loaded their oil cargo on the port in Basra.
Iranian media mentioned the 2 vessels had an estimated mixed capability to hold 1.8 million barrels of oil and that their cargo was now in possession of Iran.
The Tasnim information company warned that the 17 different Greek-flagged tankers at the moment afloat within the Persian Gulf can be seized by Iran if its oil and tanker taken by Greece final month weren’t returned.
Iran has a historical past of tit-for-tat seizing of oil tankers within the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz in response to ships carrying its oil being stopped or confiscated. However the incident on Friday marked the primary time in months {that a} foreign-flagged vessel was focused by Iran.
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