Iran, IRGC confirm seizure of two Greek oil tankers in Iran's territorial waters

1. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) public relations announced that the oil takers were seized on Friday following the violation of naval regulations.Show more

The IRGC Navy seized the Greek oil tankers, Sepah News reported.

According to the report, Greek oil tankers Prudent Warrior and Delta Poseidon have been moved to Iranian waters a few miles off the Persian Gulf coast.

In a related development on Wednesday, the Greek government seized an Iranian ship off the coast of the European country and confiscated its cargo by alleged court order and in coordination with the US government.

Following the illegal seizure of the Iranian oil tanker, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Greek Embassy to Iran (in the absence of the Ambassador) was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
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2. Athens announced on Friday that Iranian navy helicopters had landed gunmen on the two tankers earlier in the day.

One of them, the Delta Poseidon, was sailing in international waters at the time, the Greek Foreign Ministry said, adding that the second tanker was near the Iranian coast when seized.

The ministry also said nine Greeks were among the crews of both vessels, but did not give a number of other sailors on board.

Athens has informed the European Union and the International Maritime Organization of the incident, it added.

According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, Delta Poseidon’s destination was Agioi Theodoroi, near Corinth, and the cargo is understood to be for the Motor Oil refinery located there.
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3. On Thursday, Reuters quoted unnamed sources as saying that the US Department of Justice had confiscated 700,000 barrels of Iranian oil cargo seized last month off the southern Greek island of Evia onboard a Russian-operated ship.

# US ‘looking into’ reports Iran seized Greek tankers

Meanwhile, the US Navy’s Mideast-based 5th Fleet said it was “looking into” reports that Iran had seized two Greek oil tankers.

Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins of the 5th Fleet told The Associated Press that the Navy was continuing to investigate, without further elaborating.

A report by Lloyd’s List Intelligence said that in two seemingly similar operations, the suezmaxes Delta Poseidon and Prudent Warrior, both under Greek flag, were seized by Iranian forces on Friday afternoon.

Also on Friday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the chargé d'affaires of Switzerland, which represents Washington’s interests in Tehran, to protest the US seizure of the Iranian oil cargo.

The ministry also on Wednesday summoned the Greek chargé d'affaires to protest the move.

Greece accused Iran of "piracy" after Tehran's Revolutionary Guards said they seized two Greek-flagged oil tankers in the Gulf Friday.

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*** Confusion over EU sanctions, chaos in seaports: Greece to release Russian tanker Pegas (#Пегас):
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* EU sanctions: Russian oil tanker seized in Greece:
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