Voice of America
05 Jul 2019, 09:05 GMT+10
Updated at 6:20 p.m., July 4
Police in the British territory of Gibraltar have seized an Iranian oil tanker suspected of carrying crude oil to Syria, violating European Union sanctions.
This is the first time an EU nation has taken such a bold move to keep sanctions intact.
Gibraltar authorities, aided by British Royal Marines, intercepted the Grace 1 early Thursday in Mediterranean waters claimed by both Britain and Spain, 4 kilometers off Gibraltar. They impounded the tanker.
"We have reason to believe that the Grace 1 was carrying a shipment of crude oil to the Banyas refinery in Syria," Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Piccardo said. "The refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria."
Spain's foreign minister Josep Borrell told reporters the United States asked Gibraltar to seize the tanker.
White House national security adviser John Bolton did not say whether the U.S. made such a request, but welcomed the takeover, saying the U.S. and its allies will continue to stop Syria and Iran from "profiting off this illicit trade."
Reaction from Iran
Iran's foreign ministry has summoned the British ambassador to Tehran to express its "very strong objection to the illegal and unacceptable seizure" of its property.
Iran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's fight against numerous rebel forces trying to topple him. Syria has taken back control of nearly the entire country except for Idlib province and scattered rebel strongholds.
The EU and United States have sanctions against Syria. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Iranian oil exports last year when he pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.
Choking off Iran's market for oil has severely damaged the Iranian economy.
Get a daily dose of Mexico Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Mexico Star.
More InformationDUBLIN, Ireland - A €65 million fund to drive solutions to the green transition and to digital transformation was launched ...
New Delhi [India], August 9 (ANI): To take forward the process of widespread consultation for the development of the new ...
Karachi [Pakistan], August 9 (ANI): Horrid memories of the tragic event of the 2009 Ashura blast case, the victims of ...
Lexington, Kentucky - U.S. President Joe Biden pledged more federal help to flood-ravaged eastern Kentucky on Monday after touring the ...
Kabul [Afghanistan], August 9 (ANI): Fears have intensified due to an increase in violence in Kabul during the final days ...
Geneva [Switzerland], August 9 (ANI): UN human rights experts on Monday (local time) condemned the extensive, prolonged and repeated use ...
SOLOMON ISLANDS: In a move that opponents said is aimed at controlling and censoring the media, the government of the ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: In July, a Florida man was killed by exploding Takata airbag inflators, possibly becoming the 20th death in ...
Israel has launched an unprovoked war against the Palestinian resistance group Islamic Jihad. The Israeli army assassinated a high-ranking commander ...
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan categorically denied on Thursday that a U.S. drone strike in Kabul that killed al-Qaeda chief Ayman ...
EAST NUSA TENGGARA, Indonesia: Hundreds of Indonesian tourism workers went on strike this week to protest a sharp rise in ...
NASSAU, Bahamas: A team of explorers have announced that they have uncovered a treasure, including coins, gemstones and priceless jewels, ...