US National Security Advisor Welcomes Britain’s Action to Stop Iranian Oil Tanker Bound for Syria
John Bolton, the White House National Security Advisor, welcomed Britain’s action in stopping an Iranian oil tanker that was carrying fuel to the Syrian government.
“John Bolton,” the US National Security Advisor, wrote on his Twitter account Friday morning (Tehran time): “Great news: Britain has stopped the supertanker ‘Grace 1’ which was in violation of European Union sanctions while transporting Iranian oil to Syria. The United States and our allies will not allow the regimes in Tehran and Damascus to profit from this illegal trade.”
Earlier on Thursday, July 4, the British Royal Navy and official authorities in Gibraltar seized a supertanker named “Grace 1” that was carrying crude oil destined for Syria.
The seizure of this oil tanker took place because it violated European Union sanctions against the Syrian government, which came into effect from May 2011 onwards.
Also, Spain’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced that the seizure of the Iranian tanker was carried out at the request of the United States.
According to recorded information, this ship was in Iraq in December (autumn of last year), but the Iraqi port did not register its name. The ship’s tracking system was also turned off and was seen shortly after near the port of Assaluyeh in Iran.
The ship had chosen the longer route through South Africa – instead of the Suez Canal.
Source: Voice of America
