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ATHENS — Greece accused Iran of “piracy” after Iranian forces seized two Greek oil tankers within the Persian Gulf in obvious retaliation for Greece’s seizing an Iranian tanker and letting the U.S. confiscate its crude oil.
Greece’s International Ministry complained to the Iranian ambassador in Athens over the “violent taking on of two Greek-flagged ships” within the Persian Gulf after Iran mentioned it has taken the vessels. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard mentioned on Friday that Iranian forces “seized two Greek tankers for violations in Gulf waters,” based on an announcement quoted by Iranian state information company IRNA.
The Greek ministry referred to as for the speedy launch of the vessels and their crews, saying the “acts successfully quantity to acts of piracy,” based on an announcement. The ministry warned that the seizure would have “notably unfavourable penalties” within the bilateral relations between Greece and Iran and on Iran’s relations with the European Union.
The Cypriot International Ministry additionally issued a powerful assertion on Saturday, calling for the speedy launch of the crew members, amongst whom one is Cypriot.
The conflict comes after the U.S. confiscated Iranian oil held on a Russian operated ship close to Greece. The cargo has been remodeled to a different ship employed by the People and will likely be despatched to the U.S., based on Greek officers.
The 2 Greek tankers had been seized on Friday. In response to the Greek International Ministry, an Iranian helicopter landed on the Greek-flagged Delta Poseidon, whereas it was crusing in worldwide waters, some 22 nautical miles off the coast of Iran. “Armed males then captured the ship’s crew, together with two Greek residents,” the ministry mentioned.
“An analogous incident was reported on one other Greek-flagged ship, carrying seven Greek residents, off the Iranian coast,” the ministry added. The second ship is Prudent Warrior, managed by the Greek firm Polembros Transport.
Nour Information, an internet site near Iran’s Supreme Nationwide Safety Council, had warned earlier on Friday that Tehran deliberate to take “punitive motion” over Greece aiding the U.S.
Tensions are working excessive between Tehran and the West. Lengthy-running negotiations to revive the Iran nuclear deal below U.S. President Joe Biden got here to a standstill final month in Vienna with the sticking level being the standing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Biden has finalized his choice to maintain the IRGC on a terrorist blacklist, additional complicating worldwide efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear settlement.
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