Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Friday, hours after Athens assisted the US in seizing an Iranian oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Russian-flagged Pegas was intercepted in Greek waters in April carrying approved Iranian crude. (Photo: AP/FILE)
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Friday after Athens assisted the US in seizing an Iranian oil tanker over alleged sanctions violations in the Mediterranean.
The guard’s announcement comes at a time when tensions remain between Iran and the West over stalled talks regarding a fast-moving nuclear program.
The Guard issued a statement on its website alleging unspecified violations at unidentified tankers.
Greece’s foreign ministry said Iranian officials “violently took possession” of the two ships in an “act of theft”.
Asked about the Iranian claim, Commander. Timothy Hawkins, of the US Navy’s Middle East-based 5th Fleet, told the AP that “this is what we are tracking,” but declined to comment further.
Iran threatened “punitive action” earlier on Friday over Athens’ involvement in the US seizure of an Iranian oil tanker in Greek waters.
Iran’s Noor News website, close to its security services, made the threat, as did shipping news site Lloyd’s List which said it believed two Greek tankers were seized in the Persian Gulf. Citing anonymous industry sources, Lloyds reported that the two ships had boarded after Iranian military helicopters reached them on Friday afternoon. It said both tankers had just been carrying Iraqi crude.
A Greek official said Thursday that the crude oil cargo of an Iranian-flagged tanker that was intercepted in Greek waters last month has been confiscated and is being transferred to another vessel following a request from the United States.
The official said that following “judicial intervention by US officials with respect to the ship’s cargo”, the process is currently underway, with the oil “to be handed over” from the port of Keristos on the Aegean Sea island of Avia, at the expense of the US government. .
The official, who asked not to be identified to discuss the matter, did not provide further details. A spokesman for the Justice Department in Washington and the US Embassy in Athens declined to comment on Thursday.