Iranian ships being towed to port after release by Greece
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The Lana was detained under claims of US sanctions against Russia and part of its oil cargo was looted.
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Liberian-flagged Ice Energy steals crude oil from the Lana, an Iranian-flagged tanker, off the Greek island of Evia. (AFP)
The Greek coastguard stated on Saturday that an Iranian-flagged ship captured by Greece in April, some of whose cargo was looted by the US, was freed and hauled to the port of Piraeus.
The Lana was moored off the Greek island of Evia for more than two months after Athens submitted to US pressure.
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.
The US ordered seizing the oil on an Iranian-flagged tanker near Greece, with the cargo set to be sent to the US through another ship, three informed sources indicated. The move was slammed by Tehran as maritime piracy.
Last week, the director-General of Iran's Port and Maritime Organization (PMO), Ali-Akbar Safaei, revealed that the ship had been released as Iran heads to reclaim the stolen oil resources.
Legal sources told Reuters that the release of the ship was due to alleged towing services debts.
However, the true reason could be that Iran's coast guard retaliated and seized two Greek tankers, the Delta Poseidon and the Prudent Warrior, off the coast of Aslaviyeh and Bandar Lengeh, a mere two days after Greece seized Lana.
A Greek legal body revoked the court decision that had permitted the cargo to be looted on behalf of the US, allowing Lana to reclaim it.
Iran's Foreign Ministry also summoned the head of Greece's diplomatic mission for seizing cargo from a vessel flying the Iranian flag in Greek waters.
The head of the Mediterranean and East European affairs at Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that Greece's "unacceptable" surrender to "illegal" US pressures was "an example of international piracy," as was the "seizure of the cargo of the ship" flying the flag of Iran.
The official also stated that Iran "will not relinquish its legal rights and expects the Greek government to honor its international commitments in the maritime and shipping sectors."
