Iran’s First Tanker Enters Venezuelan Waters

The first of five Iranian fuel tankers entered Venezuela’s exclusive economic zone on Saturday evening local time.

According to Reuters news agency, ship tracking data collected by the Refinitiv Eikon company shows that the tanker “Fortune,” sailing under the Iranian flag, entered Venezuelan territorial waters at 7:30 p.m. local time.

Venezuelan state television also broadcast images of Venezuelan Navy vessels and fighter jets welcoming the “Fortune” tanker.

Four other Iranian tankers, named Petunia, Forest, Faxon, and Clavel, have passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and are heading toward the Caribbean Sea.

In this regard, Vladimir Padrino, Venezuela’s Defense Minister, said on Wednesday in response to statements by a U.S. official regarding a possible U.S. action, that the country’s military would escort Iranian tankers upon entering the exclusive economic zone.

Tareck El Aissami, Venezuela’s economic vice president who was recently appointed oil minister, wrote on Twitter that the first Iranian tanker is now in our exclusive economic zone.

Based on the assessment of the “Tanker Trackers” website, these five tankers are carrying a total of more than 1.52 million barrels of gasoline and other Iranian oil products destined for Venezuela.

Iran and Venezuela’s oil industries, both member countries of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), are under U.S. sanctions.

Venezuela’s refineries previously had a combined capacity of approximately 1.3 million barrels per day, but due to years of lack of investment and deterioration of infrastructure, this capacity has been severely reduced.

Meanwhile, Oscar Ronderos, an opposition representative in Venezuela’s parliament, said: “[The ruling party] is trying to turn its disgrace into an epic victory.”

Previously, a senior American official who did not disclose his name told Reuters that the United States is reviewing its response to this action.

Meanwhile, Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s president, warned on Saturday that if Iranian tankers in the Caribbean Sea or anywhere else face problems caused by the United States, Iran will take retaliatory measures.

In a conversation with the Emir of Qatar, he said: “If our tankers in the Caribbean Sea or anywhere in the world face problems caused by Americans, we will reciprocally create problems for them.”

Iran’s president added that “we hope the Americans will not make a mistake.”

Simultaneously, Venezuela warned the United Nations in a letter about possible U.S. action against these tankers.

Source: Radio Farda