US confiscates Iran oil shipment aboard vessel amid Tehran tensions. Three sources stated the U.S. confiscated Iranian oil on a ship at sea in a sanctions enforcement operation. Days later, Iran seized another oil-laden vessel in response, according to a maritime security firm.
The cargo interception follows years of U.S. sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program and shaky oil markets. Nevertheless, Iran sells oil despite the sanctions.
Tehran claims its nuclear program is for civilian use, but Washington suspects a nuclear weapon.
Maritime security business Ambrey claimed the U.S. confiscation occurred five days before Iran’s move on Thursday. “Ambrey has assessed the seizure by the Iranian Navy to be in response to the U.S. action,” it advised clients.
Both Suezmax tankers. Iran retaliated after oil shipment raids.”
After obtaining a court order, Washington took control of the Marshall Islands tanker Suez Rajan’s oil cargo. Ship monitoring data shows the tanker’s latest position around southern Africa on April 22.
Empire Navigation, the ship’s Greek management, and the Department of Justice did not reply to demands for comment.
Iran captured a Marshall Islands-flagged ship in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday, the U.S. Navy said.
On Friday, Iranian state T.V. said that the tanker disregarded radio calls for eight hours after colliding with an Iranian boat, injuring many crewmembers and missing three.”Before using force, we tried to call the vessel…to stop but they did not cooperate,” Iranian deputy naval commander Rear Admiral Mostafa Tajodini told the BBC.
A U.N. official said Friday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was aware of the Gulf of Oman seizure and supported international maritime law.
Last year, the U.S. sought to take a shipment of Iranian oil near Greece, prompting Tehran to arrest two Greek ships in the Gulf. The shipment was returned to Iran by Greece’s top court. Released were the two Greek tankers.
12 U.S. senators on Thursday asked President Joe Biden to eliminate Treasury Department policy impediments that have stopped the Department of Homeland Security from arresting Iranian oil shipments for more than a year.
In 2020, Washington intercepted four cargoes of Iranian petroleum on foreign ships destined for Venezuela and moved them to two other ships that went to the U.S.
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