Iran seizes two Greek oil tankers
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized two Greek oil tankers in the Gulf, days after Athens announced the transfer of 115,000 tons of oil on board Russian ships to the United States.
“The Maritime Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Iran (IRGC) today seized two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf for violations,” the IRGC announced on May 27, but did not specify what these violations were.
Greece criticized the seizure of the ship as an act of piracy. Foreign Office Greek Iranian helicopters have landed on two Iranian oil tankers. One of the two ships, the Delta Poseidon, was captured by the IRGC while moving in international waters.
The other ship, the Prudent Warrior, was captured while moving near the coast of Iran. The Greek Foreign Ministry said there were nine Greek nationals on board the Prudent Warrior, but did not release details about the others or the crew of the Delta Poseidon.
Greek oil tanker Delta Poseidon moves through Istanbul, Turkey in April 2019. Image: AP.
Iran seized the Delta Poseidon and Prudent Warrior ships a few days after Greece announced the transfer of 115,000 tons of oil from the Middle Eastern country on board the flagged Pegas vessel. Russia for America.
The Pegas vessel was seized by Greece in April under European Union (EU) sanctions. The oil on board the Pegas is expected to be shipped to the United States at the request of the Ministry of Finance of this country to enforce sanctions against Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry asked Greece to release the Pegas and announced the transfer of the oil on board to America “clear violation of international law”. The agency also objected to “the US government’s pressure and intervention” that prompted Greece to seize the Pegas in April.
A source in the Greek Coast Guard said the oil on board the Pegas began to be transferred to a Liberian-flagged vessel to be transported to the US on May 26. The source said the delivery will take several days.
Nguyen Tien (Follow AFP)
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here
