Iran detained a foreign tanker en route to the waters of the Persian Gulf. This is reported by local media.
According to General of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ramezan Zirahi, the military detained a tanker that “smuggled fuel for several Arab countries”
The Iranian side said that we are talking about 700 thousand liters of oil. It is not reported for which Arab countries was intended oil. The flag under which the ship went is also not specified.
The tanker was sent to the port in the Iranian province of Bushehr. Onboard there were seven crew members, all of them were detained.
According to the ISNA agency, the detention was carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with the participation of the country's special services in the fight against organized smuggling. The detained vessel was delivered to the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company (NIOPDC).
Onset of exacerbation
Recall that events in the Persian Gulf region in recent months have caused a worsening of relations between Iran and a number of Western states, especially the United States and Great Britain.
In early July, the authorities of Gibraltar, supported by British troops, detained the super tanker Grace One, flying the flag of Panama. The ship was suspected of transporting 2 million barrels of crude oil from Iran to Syria, bypassing the sanctions imposed on Damascus. Later the crew of the tanker was released, but the arrest of the vessel itself was extended.
The Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the actions of the authorities of Gibraltar, stressing that the department regards the detention of the vessel and the cargo on it as a targeted action to further complicate the situation around Iran and Syria.
- Grace One Tanker
- Reuters
- © Jon Nazca / File
“The enthusiastic comments of high-ranking officials of Great Britain and the United States that followed immediately after this operation confirm these estimates and indicate that this action has been prepared for a long time with the inclusion of relevant services and departments of several countries,” the ministry added.
Later, the British Defense Ministry announced that three Iranian boats attempted to stop a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. On this incident, it became known on July 11.
Then it was reported that the frigate of the royal naval forces of Montrose "was forced to stand" between boats and tanker and make an "oral warning" to ensure the safety of the British ship.
Detention of a British tanker
A week later, on July 19, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps detained a British oil tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz for violating international maritime law.
According to Tehran, the tanker clashed with a fishing vessel and ignored the subsequent distress call. After the arrest, the tanker, whose crew consists of Russian citizens, was escorted to the port of Bandar Abbas. In Tehran, said that the crew will remain on board until the end of the investigation.
After that, British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt threatened Tehran with "serious consequences" if the situation with the detention of the tanker is not resolved soon. In addition, the British Government Security Committee "Cobra" recommended that the courts of the United Kingdom temporarily not approach the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
In turn, Iran explained that it adheres to the rules of shipping.
“Unlike piracy in the Strait of Gibraltar, our actions in the Persian Gulf are aimed at complying with international maritime regulations. As I said in New York, it is Iran that guarantees the security of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. The UK must stop being an accomplice to US economic terrorism, ”said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Against the background of these events, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the confrontation between the United States and Iran is disturbing, since it takes place near Russian borders.
“This may destabilize the situation around Iran, affect some countries with which we have very close, close relations, cause additional waves of refugees in large numbers, can cause significant damage to the global economy and world energy,” Putin said in an interview to American director Oliver Stone .