Iran rebuffs French, German statements on seizure of Greek tankers
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The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry advises Paris and Berlin to support the judicial processes based on international regulations.
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Spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry Saeed Khatibzadeh
The Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed France and Germany's "one-sided and unjustifiable" condemnation of the seizure of two Greek oil tankers in the Arab Gulf.
The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry Saeed Khatibzadeh said: “We strongly reject such one-sided and unjustifiable statements that have apparently turned into a constant habit for those who issue them.”
Khatibzadeh’s statements came after France and Germany considered Iran's seizure of two Greek-flagged oil tankers a "serious violation of international law", urging the immediate release of the vessels and their crews.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Khatibzadeh advised Paris and Berlin to support the judicial processes based on international regulations whose purpose is to ensure the freedom of navigation and maritime security instead of escaping to forward and expressing unreasonable support for the violations committed by the Greek ships."
He also added such inappropriate meddling in Iran's independent judicial processes would not solve any problems.
It is worth mentioning that Khatibzadeh said, on Tuesday, that it was only natural that Iran would stop any ship violating international maritime laws especially the illicit seizure of the Iranian oil tanker, advising Greece to follow up on the matter through courts, away from the media spotlight.
Last Thursday, the US ordered Greece to seize the oil on an Iranian-flagged tanker near Greece, with the cargo set to be sent to the US through another ship. Originally, the ship is Russian-flagged - named Pegas - but has changed its flag to an Iranian one to avoid EU and US sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
In response, Iran's Coast Guard seized two Greek oil tankers, the Delta Poseidon and the Prudent Warrior, off the coast of Aslaviyeh and Bandar Lengeh, a mere two days after Greece's "international piracy", as described by the head of the Mediterranean and East European affairs at Iran's Foreign Ministry.
