Iran Files Complaint Against US with International Maritime Organization
Following the US warning to insurance companies to sanctions Iranian oil tankers, Tehran filed a complaint against this American action with the International Maritime Organization. Iran’s ambassador to Britain called the United States “responsible for any incident at sea.”
Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran’s ambassador to Britain, announced that Iran’s embassy in the country has filed a complaint with the International Maritime Organization against the United States by sending a letter to the organization’s secretary general.
This action took place one day after Brian Hook, head of the Iran Action Group at the US State Department, said that international insurance companies have been prohibited from insuring Iranian oil tankers. He stated on Wednesday, November 7, that Iranian tankers turn off their radar identification systems to avoid being tracked, which could cause environmental disasters.
According to Hook, prohibiting international insurance companies from insuring Iranian vessels will force Iran to resort to domestic insurance companies, which will not have the capacity to pay heavy compensation that could amount to billions of dollars.
Hamid Baeidinejad described American sanctions against Iranian ships as “a violation of international maritime treaties” and “endangering maritime safety.” He wrote that Iran therefore requested a “special review” of this matter in the council of the International Maritime Organization in its letter to the secretary general.
In a post published on his Telegram channel, Iran’s ambassador in London wrote: “Undoubtedly, Iran cannot cease the operations of its fleet of ships for oil exports, as well as the export and import of commercial and industrial goods, due to the unlawful demands of the United States.”
He added: “Certainly, the United States will be responsible for any incident at sea.”
The second round of American sanctions against Iran, which targeted the oil, gas, and shipping industries, went into effect on Monday, November 5. American officials stated that the goal of these sanctions is to completely halt Iran’s oil exports. Brian Hook said that America’s strategy of applying maximum pressure on Iran has been successful so far, and Washington will continue to pursue this approach.
According to Reuters, Iran’s oil exports have declined from 2.8 million barrels per day in April (before the US withdrawal from the JCPOA) to 1.8 million barrels per day.
Source: DW
