US Department of State spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said the crew and all those associated with the Grace 1 tanker, which, according to Washington, were transporting Iranian oil to Syria bypassing US sanctions, are waiting for the “consequences”.

“According to the United States, Grace 1 assisted the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) by transporting oil from Iran to Syria. This can lead to serious consequences for any individuals associated with Grace 1, ”said Ortagus.

The refusal of entry visas to the USA, as well as the strengthening of sanctions against the IRGC and Iran in general, were indicated as possible "consequences". Recall, the United States recently recognized the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is an independent elite formation of the Iranian armed forces, as a terrorist organization.

“The maritime community should know that the US government intends to annul the visas of members of such crews. In the case of the Grace 1 marine tanker, we will continue to act in accordance with our current policy regarding those who provide material support to the IRGC, ”the representative of the State Department emphasized.

On the eve of the Gibraltar authorities decided to release the Iranian tanker Grace 1, which, together with the crew, was detained by the British military in early July on suspicion of violation of sanctions against Syria.

The authorities of Gibraltar on August 15 reported that they had received written assurances from Tehran that, if released, the tanker would not violate the EU sanctions regime imposed on Syria.

“In the light of the assurances we received, there is no longer any reasonable basis for continuing the legal detention of Grace 1 in order to enforce EU sanctions,” said Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo.

Picardo also said that the US Department of Justice sent requests to extend the detention of the tanker on the basis of a "series of charges", but he refused to satisfy this request. Moreover, the content of the document is still under separate consideration by the biblical authorities.

The New York Times, citing an Iranian oil trader, reported that Grace 1 will go to Greece and then to Italy, but it is unclear who is going to buy Iranian oil at these destinations, bypassing US sanctions.

Threats from the State Department look unconvincing, since the United States, obviously, failed to push its line on this issue, said Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Research, in an interview with RT.

“They made public statements and sent requests for a tanker to be given to them. Great Britain did not want to spoil relations with Iran, realizing that the threats that the Trump administration voices against Tehran are toxic to London. These threats force the British government to intervene in a situation unfavorable for itself, ”the expert noted.

Iranian answer

After the tanker was liberated, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif called US actions in this situation a “pirate attempt” to take possession of a ship, which shows Washington’s contempt of international law.

  • US Department of State
  • Reuters
  • © Joshua Roberts

“Unable to achieve their goals with the help of economic terrorism, including the deprivation of cancer sick drugs, the United States tried to abuse the legal system to steal our property on the high seas. This attempt to commit an act of piracy testifies to the disrespect of the Trump administration to the law, ”RIA Novosti quoted the diplomat as saying.

An official from the Iranian government, Ali Rabii, noted that, “despite continued pressure and sabotage from the United States, the Grace 1 tanker was released after an illegal detention” and called the situation another defeat of the White House.

In turn, the official representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Abbas Mousavi, denied the message from the Gibraltar authorities and said that Tehran did not give any guarantees regarding the future route of the Grace 1 tanker.

“Iran did not give any guarantees that the Grace 1 tanker would not go to Syria. From the very first hours of the vessel’s detention, we have stated that Syria is not the destination of the tanker, and we continue to say the same. But even if he was heading to the Syrian republic, then this is only our business, ”quotes Mousavi TASS.

An Iranian diplomat noted that Tehran supports Syria in all areas, including energy and oil.

“This activity is legal, and no third country has anything to do with it. Iran will sell its oil to any buyer, old or new, ”Mousavi emphasized.

The story of the tankers

Recall that the July 4 detention of the supertanker Grace 1 in Gibraltar led to an escalation in relations between Iran and Western countries. Soon after this incident, Iranian military boats tried to stop the British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, but then the frigate HMS Montrose of the British Navy intervened in the situation.

  • Iranian tanker Grace 1
  • Reuters
  • © Jon Nazca

On July 19, the British oil tanker Stena Impero was detained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the military, the reason for the detention of the vessel was a "violation of international law of the sea" and a collision with an Iranian fishing vessel.

Soon after, the US State Department imposed sanctions against Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and extended restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also said that Washington is gathering an international coalition to patrol the Strait of Hormuz, but this idea has not yet been implemented. Only Great Britain announced its intention to strengthen its presence in the strait, sending another ship to help the frigate HMS Montrose.

According to Vladimir Bruter, US attempts to increase tension in the Strait of Hormuz create difficulties for Britain, which obviously does not want to participate more actively in the anti-Iranian coalition.

“Iran has shown that it has something to answer. The British tanker was detained by Iran, and the United States could not do anything about it. Therefore, at this stage, London is looking for ways to negotiate with Tehran, and does not listen to Washington, ”the political scientist explained.

The British realized that in such an environment, it’s dangerous to support US policy now, added Vladimir Bruter.

“But if the new cabinet headed by Boris Johnson suddenly decides that it is not dangerous, but even profitable, then this point of view will change. As long as they see that Iran has something to answer, they will not take drastic steps, ”the expert noted.

Coercion to negotiate

International players understand that the escalation of the conflict with Iran could cause a situation close to an economic disaster, said Konstantin Blokhin, an expert at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

“Many energy security analysts have noted that this tanker war will lead to an increase in oil prices up to $ 200 per barrel. This will hit the pockets of oil consuming countries. The authorities of Gibraltar and the UK understand what this escalation of tension could lead to, ”the expert explained.

The United States uses the same behavior algorithm for its enemies, Blokhin noted.

“The atmosphere is being pumped up, which is brought to such an extent that a feeling of imminent invasion is floating in the air. This is done in order to force the other side to sit at the negotiating table. This US algorithm has failed in the case of Venezuela, North Korea, and now with Iran, ”the political scientist explained.

The decision of the British authorities demonstrates that the United States does not have hegemony in foreign policy over European countries, he added.

“The hegemonic dictatorship implies complete control in which such disobedience is unthinkable. This demonstrates that the modern world is not at all unipolar, as Washington would like, ”concluded Konstantin Blokhin.