Iranian Tanker Pursued by U.S. Anchors at Mediterranean Port: TV

Arsalan Shahla 1 hr ago

(Bloomberg) -- An Iranian-flagged oil tanker that’s been sanctioned by the U.S. has anchored at a port on the Mediterranean Sea and all of its cargo has been sold, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said on state TV.

© REUTERS/Jon Nazca An Iranian flag flies on Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, previously named Grace 1, as it sits anchored after the Supreme Court of the British territory lifted its detention order, in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain, August 18, 2019.

Abbas Mousavi said the Adrian Darya 1, which is thought to be carrying 2 million barrels of oil, reached its unspecified destination. He said the ship’s cargo had been “sold at sea,” without giving details.

Previously named the Grace 1, the vessel was seized in early July by British forces near Gibraltar on suspicion it was bringing oil to Syria in breach of sanctions that apply to the European Union. The U.S., which has its own sanctions on Iran, issued a warrant to seize the vessel in mid-August.

In a retaliatory move, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard seized a U.K.-flagged tanker called the Stena Impero in the Persian Gulf on July 20, claiming it had endangered other vessels. The ship is still in Iran’s custody and Mousavi said the final stage of legal and judicial work related to its seizure is under way.

Slide 1 of 69: The domestically built mobile missile defence system Bavar-373 is displayed on the National Defence Industry Day in Tehran, Iran August 22, 2019. Tasnim News Agency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

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