British Marines Seize Oil Tanker Suspected of Bringing Iranian Oil to Syria

[Origanalist]

(How is this not a act of war?)

British Royal Marines seized an oil tanker in Gibraltar on Thursday. They suspected the tanker was headed to Syria, which would be a violation of US and EU sanctions. The Grace 1 oil tanker was believed to have started its journey in Iran.

“That refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria,” Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said. “With my consent, our port and law enforcement agencies sought the assistance of the Royal Marines in carrying out this operation.”

About 30 Royal Marines boarded the tanker, some descended down on ropes from a helicopter, others came alongside the tanker in a speedboat.
https://www.activistpost.com/2019/0...spected-of-bringing-iranian-oil-to-syria.html

 

[Origanalist]

Iran summons UK ambassador after ‘illegal’ tanker seizure

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Britain’s ambassador to the country after British forces seized an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Gibraltar.

Rob Macaire was summoned to the ministry on Thursday, hours after reports emerged that the vessel had been boarded by British Royal Marines and impounded.

Later in the day, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Moussavi took part in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)’s News Network, saying, "We declared to the ambassador that this move amounts to strange unconventionality, because the sanctions that they have announced are not based on the Security Council [resolutions] and the Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept this measure (seizure of the tanker).”

The Iranian diplomat further stated that the Spanish Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the move was made at the request of the US and that the seizure amounted to “implementation of a type of extraterritorial sanctions despite the fact that the European Union has invariably been against such bans.”

Moussavi said that Iran denounces the seizure as "a destructive step," which contributes to further escalation in regional tensions.
https://www.presstv.com/Detail/2019...ssador-tanker-seizure-Gibraltar-United-States

 

[Swordsmyth]

If the brits are doing their own dirty work they must be having trouble getting us to do it for them.

 

[Snowball]

Still trying to remember what Iran did to the US to deserve this

oh yeah, that's it... they got mad at Israel.

 

[AngryCanadian]

Brits are bunch of idiots for doing this.

The Iranian diplomat further stated that the Spanish Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the move was made at the request of the US and that the seizure amounted to “implementation of a type of extraterritorial sanctions despite the fact that the European Union has invariably been against such bans.”

Europe always obeys its military occupiers.

 

[XNavyNuke]

(How is this not a act of war?)

Against who? She was flagged by Panama, owned by a Russian company, crewed by Russian civilians. From the activist photo, she's sitting high in the water so she not loaded. Each oil field has a unique chemical fingerprint, so an analysis of the dregs will be able to tell if at any point she had been carrying Iranian crude.

The Iranian Navy seizing an British flagged tanker on the other hand would be a very bad idea. Panama flag of convenience work very well because foreign countries can pretty much board them on the high seas whenever. Panama is not going to declare war and invade. Business owners chalk up the payoffs to Panamanian officials as just the cost of doing business.

All in all, it seems a low risk operation on the part of the British Navy. Best case they get evidence that Iran is violating sanctions, worst case it's a training op for their marines.

https://www.balticshipping.com/vessel/imo/9116412

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-28558480

XNN

 

[Swordsmyth]

Egypt seized a Ukrainian oil tanker carrying Iranian crude while it was crossing the Suez Canal ten days ago, according to a report from Arab news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed carried by Middle East Monitor.
If confirmed, this would be the second detention of a tanker carrying Iranian oil over the past two weeks.

The report of the detention of another tanker loaded with Iranian oil—the one seized by Egyptian authorities—came a day after an Egyptian court sentenced an Al-Azhar professor and five other defendants on charges of spying for Iran. The Al-Azhar professor, Alaa Moawad, attended the trial and was sentenced to 15 years in prison and a fine, while the five other defendants, tried in absentia, were jailed for life.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-...gypt-Detains-Tanker-Carrying-Iranian-Oil.html

 

[Swordsmyth]

Egypt seized a Ukrainian oil tanker carrying Iranian crude while it was crossing the Suez Canal ten days ago, according to a report from Arab news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed carried by Middle East Monitor.
If confirmed, this would be the second detention of a tanker carrying Iranian oil over the past two weeks.

The report of the detention of another tanker loaded with Iranian oil—the one seized by Egyptian authorities—came a day after an Egyptian court sentenced an Al-Azhar professor and five other defendants on charges of spying for Iran. The Al-Azhar professor, Alaa Moawad, attended the trial and was sentenced to 15 years in prison and a fine, while the five other defendants, tried in absentia, were jailed for life.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-...gypt-Detains-Tanker-Carrying-Iranian-Oil.html

A report about Egypt detaining an Iranian tanker from an Arab news outlet carried by Middle East Monitor is false, TankerTrackers.com co-founder Samir Madani told Oilprice.
The report said Egyptian authorities had seized a Ukrainian tanker carrying Iranian crude ten days ago when it was crossing the Suez Canal.


Madani, however, said "Based on all the tracking of Iranian oil we continue to do, we haven't seen any vessels being seized in the Suez Canal area since late last year, when a vessel called SEA SHARK failed to deliver oil to Syria. Seventeen of the 31 crew are Ukrainian, and that's possibly where a news propaganda outlet such as Middle East Monitor received its inspiration for story that has no grounds or details as to which vessel was recently involved. The story doesn't even have an author to claim it as own. Yet another unfortunate case of disinformation. Iran's oil is still reaching Syria."
A few hours later, the Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority denied the original report about the tanker seizure, as quoted by Iranian media.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-...rt-Of-Detained-Tanker-With-Iranian-Crude.html

 

[Swordsmyth]

With the Persian Gulf uncharacteristically quiet in recent days, without any material provocation either real of staged, late on Wednesday CNN reported that five armed Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard boats unsuccessfully tried to seize a British oil tanker in the Persian Gulf. There was no independent verification of the report, but instead it was once again sourced to those who stands to gain the most from a way with Iran, namely "two US officials with direct knowledge of the incident."

According to the report, the British Heritage tanker was sailing out of the Persian Gulf and was crossing into the Strait of Hormuz area when it was approached by the Iranian boats. The Iranians ordered the tanker to change course and stop in nearby Iranian territorial waters, according to the officials. A US aircraft was overhead and recorded video of the incident, although so far a video has not been released.

​

In addition to the US aircraft escort, the UK's Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose had been escorting the tanker, and during the confrontation, it trained its deck guns on the Iranians and gave them a verbal warning to back away, which they did. Montrose is equipped on the deck with 30 mm guns specifically designed to drive off small boats. The frigate was in the region performing a "maritime security role" according to a prior notification from UK officials.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-07-10/iranian-boats-attempt-seize-uk-tanker-straits-hormuz