Iran calls Britain’s capture of its oil tanker a dangerous precedent
(VOVWORLD) - Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has criticized the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker by Britain, saying it has set a dangerous precedent and must end now.
Mr. Zarif twitted that Iran is neither a member of the EU nor subject to any European oil embargo, adding that the UK's unlawful seizure of a tanker carrying Iranian oil is piracy. Iran’s Defense Minister Amir Hatami condemned the seizure of the tanker as an unforgivable threatening act.
Tensions between Iran and Britain escalated after the very large crude carrier Grace 1 was boarded and seized by officials backed by Royal Marines last Thursday on suspicion it was carrying oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. The government of Gibraltar said it had been granted a Supreme Court order allowing for the vessel to be held for up to 14 days. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denied the vessel was headed to Syria.