Tehran says to deal with US seizure of Iranian tankers as piracy

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
21 Aug 2023 20:17
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The spokesman of the Iranian foreign ministry accused the US of committing an act of piracy against Tehran, saying it would be dealt with as such.

Spokesman of the Iranian Ministry for Foreign Affairs Nasser Kanaani photographed in December 2022. (Iran MFA)

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Monday that Iran would not remain idle with regard to the piracy acts against tankers carrying Iranian oil.

The remarks come after media reports on Sunday said the US began to unload 800,000 barrels of seized Iranian oil sitting in the Suez Rajan, an oil tanker seized by the US in April under the pretext of sanctions relief and was forced to sail to Texas instead of China.

"Acts of trespassing on tankers carrying Iranian oil are a clear example of piracy," Kanaani was quoted by Iranian news agency Fars as saying. "Iran will not stand idly by in relation to any violation of the nation's rights and will cut the hands of the aggressors."

The spokesman further noted that the US government is aware that these sorts of hit-and-run actions are no longer tolerable and that Tehran will cease to remain indifferent to any attacks.

Kanaani did not confirm nor deny the reports about the unloading of oil from the tanker, saying he currently "does not have any confirmed data" regarding the issue.

A Wall Street Journal report says that the standoff over the stolen oil highlights the failure of the US administration in implementing sanctions against #Iran, as #Tehran has allegedly become bolder in its maritime expeditions. pic.twitter.com/NwHW4OdvNx
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 19, 2023

A report by the Wall Street Journal in mid-July said that US authorities were hesitating on whether they should unload the oil from the seized tanker, fearing retaliation from Tehran.

The Suez Rajan was commandeered by US prosecutors in April and the Greek company who owns the vessel was charged with sanctions evasion.

The tanker has been anchored off Galveston 80 km outside of Houston, Texas, since 30 May.

Although Washington exempted the cargo from sanctions and certified the ship for unloading, commercial agents, including US-based firms, have refused to purchase the vessel's petrol load, citing concerns that it would be rejected by customers after Tehran pledged to retaliate against companies taking its stolen oil.

Companies "are literally afraid to do it," admitted a Houston-based energy executive involved in the situation, while another executive wondered "if anybody's going to touch it."

Ship tracking data revealed that on Sunday, a Liberia-flagged tanker MR Euphrates parked parallel to Suez Rajan to transfer the crude oil.

Carrying 800,000 barrels worth around $56 million according to estimates, the Marshall-flagged vessel is too heavy to be docked directly at a port, which necessitates that it transfers its shipment to smaller cargo boats.

"Finally, after months of delay, the Biden administration has listened to my bipartisan call for action and signaled to Iran that the United States will not be complacent in the face of Iranian threats," US Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa, told Reuters in an email on Sunday.

The standoff over the stolen oil highlights the failure of the US administration in implementing sanctions against Iran, as Tehran has allegedly become bolder, according to the report, in its maritime expeditions.

A former US official believes that the current situation represents “a much bigger drama that’s playing out about how we deal with Iranian threats."

The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps Navy revealed on Saturday that its maritime units forces a US helicopter carrier to back down after in infiltrated in Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC revealed images showcasing its monitoring of that American war vessel on the strategic route.