British Royal Marines seized the supertanker Grace 1 on Thursday, accusing it of trying to take oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. But this dramatic step has infuriated Iran, threatening to escalate confrontations with the West. Mohsen Rezai, a senior commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said in a tweet: “If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, it is the (Iranian) authorities duty to seize a British oil tanker.” He added: “Islamic Iran in its 40-year history has never initiated hostilities in any battles but has also never hesitated in responding to bullies.” Tehran had summoned the British ambassador to voice “its very strong objection to the illegal and unacceptable seizure” of its ship. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the Iranian oil tanker was carrying crude oil from Iran, according to the state news agency IRNA. Gibraltar said it had reasonable grounds to believe the Grace 1 was carrying crude oil to the Baniyas refinery in Syria. The Grace 1 was impounded off the coast of Gibraltar after sailing around Africa – the longer route from the Middle East to the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea The EU has had sanctions in place for nearly a decade that restrict oil sales to Syria. Europe does not have broad sanctions in place against Iran, but the US does, forcing Tehran into mainstream markets to look for unconventional outlets to sell oil. But Spain also reignited its war of words with Britain over sovereignty in Gibraltar following the seizure of the tanker. Acting Foreign Minister Josep Borrell has claimed Gibraltar detained the supertanker Grace 1 after a request by the US to Britain. Mr Borrell, who is set to take over as the EU’s foreign policy chief, said the Spanish Government had been kept informed about the seizure. But he added they would look at whether it violated its territorial water claims. Spain does not recognise Britain’s sovereignty over Gibraltar, which dates all the way back to a 1713 treaty. Mr Borrell said, according to the Europa Press news agency: “We’re looking at which way this affects our sovereignty, in as far as it took place in waters whose sovereignty we understand to belong to Spain. This is a breaking story. More to follow. read more

Großbritannien beschlagnahmt Iranischen Tanker vor Gibraltar Iran droht mit Gegenmaßnahmen 5.07.2019

An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander threatened on Friday to seize a British ship in retaliation for the capture of an Iranian supertanker in Gibraltar by Royal Marines.
“If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, it is the authorities duty to seize a British oil tanker,” Mohsen Rezai said on Twitter.

The Gibraltar government said the crew on board the supertanker Grace 1 were being interviewed as witnesses, not criminal suspects, in an effort to establish the nature of the cargo and its ultimate destination. read more

Iranian military commanders warned it will be their “duty” to respond in kind following the dramatic swoop yesterday on 300,000-tonne vessel Grace 1. Grace 1 is believed to have been transporting oil from Iran to a refinery in Syria, flaunting international sanctions.  Royal Marines used helicopters and fast attack boats to capture the vessel – flagged to Panama – in a dramatic operation.  Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezai however threatened to seize a British tanker in response. Taking to Twitter, he said: “If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, it is the Iranian authorities duty to seize a British oil tanker.” Tehran authorities also summonded the British ambassador to answer for the incident which they have branded “piracy”.     Royal Marines were hailed for the “brave” and “bold” operation to seize the tanker suspected of carrying oil destined for the cruel regime of Bashar al-Assad.  The marines worked alongside the authorities in Gibraltar to detain the Grace 1, which was believed to be heading to the Banyas refinery in breach of European Union sanctions. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the swift action by the authorities on the Rock and the Royal Marines would deny valuable resources to Assad’s “murderous regime”. The marines were brought in to use their specialist boarding skills to help ensure the Royal Gibraltar Police could gain access to the tanker at sea.    The first marines onto the vessel descended on ropes from a Wildcat helicopter, while others were in rigid inflatable boats – around 16 Royal Gibraltar Police officers were also involved in the mission. The British ambassador to Tehran met with Iranian ministry of foreign affairs officials on Thursday afternoon after being summoned by Iran, it is understood. He was to reiterate the UK’s backing of the firm actions taken by Gibraltar in enforcing the sanctions. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi reportedly told Iranian state TV that the ambassador was summoned over the “illegal seizure” of the tanker. Gibraltar’s chief minister Fabian Picardo praised the “brave men and women” of the Royal Marines, the Royal Gibraltar Police, HM Customs Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Port Authority for their work in securing the detention of the vessel and its cargo. Mr Hunt congratulated those involved in the “bold move to enforce Syria sanctions”.    Mr Picardo said: “In the early hours of this morning, Gibraltar port and law enforcement agencies, assisted by a detachment of Royal Marines, boarded a supertanker carrying crude oil to Syria. “We have detained the vessel and its cargo. This action arose from information giving the Gibraltar government reasonable grounds to believe that the vessel, the Grace 1, was acting in breach of EU sanctions against Syria. “In fact we have reason to believe that the Grace 1 was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas refinery in Syria.” The EU has imposed a series of sanctions against Assad’s regime in Syria i read more

Iran threatens to seize British oil tanker after Marines storm ship off Gibraltar coast

IRAN has threatened to seize a British oil tanker if the Iranian tanker detained in Gibraltar is not immediately released.

British Royal Marines seized the supertanker Grace 1 on Thursday, accusing it of trying to take oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. But this dramatic step has infuriated Iran, threatening to escalate confrontations with the West. Mohsen Rezai, a senior commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said in a tweet: “If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, it is the (Iranian) authorities duty to seize a British oil tanker.” read more

“The UK government is following US foreign policy” says Iranian political communications professor Foad Izadi after Iran slams UK’s seizure of oil tanker off Gibraltar as ‘maritime piracy’.

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BRITAIN should be “scared” about Tehran’s retaliation over the dramatic seizure of an Iranian supertanker by Royal Marines, a firebrand cleric warned today.

Mohammad Ali Mousavi Jazayeri hinted the Islamic Republic may strike back over the capture of the giant vessel, impounded over fears it was illegally shipping oil to Syria.

“I am openly saying that Britain should be scared of Iran’s retaliatory measures over the illegal seizure of the Iranian oil tanker,” said the cleric, a member of the powerful clerical body the Assembly of Experts. read more

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White House National Security Advisor John Bolton applauded the interception by Britain’s Gibraltar Thursday of a super tanker believed to be carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria, saying the ship was breaking international sanctions.

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