Iran Calls Report on US Capturing Iranian Tankers, a Lie

reporter 1222 — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 04:39:30 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Iran’s Ambassador to Venezuela Hojjat Soltani rejected as “lie” a media report that the US has been capturing four Iranian tankers transporting fuel to Venezuela.

The Iranian diplomat made the comments after The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, claimed on Thursday that the US government has seized vessels carrying Iranian fuel to Venezuela, according to IRNA.

The four vessels, called Luna, Pandi, Bering and Bella, were seized on the high seas in recent days and are now en route to Houston, The Wall Street Journal said, citing the officials, adding that senior administration officials are expected to meet the tankers at an event scheduled to mark the docking.

The report, citing one official, said the vessels had been taken over without the use of military force but did not provide any details.

According to Reuters, US prosecutors filed a lawsuit last month to seize the gasoline aboard four tankers that Iran is trying to ship to Venezuela, the latest attempt by the Trump administration to increase economic pressure on the two US foes.

In a post on his Twitter account, Soltani denied the report, describing it as “another lie and psychological warfare from the US imperialism’s propaganda machine.”

“The terrorist #Trump cannot compensate for his humiliation and defeat by Iran using false propaganda.”

“Neither are the vessels Iranian, nor have their owners or flags anything to do with Iran,” the ambassador underlined.

An unnamed Iranian official also told IRNA that no Iranian ships or gasoline cargoes have been seized.

“Iran, as it has repeatedly stated, will not tolerate any such hostile actions … and has not allowed any country to take such measures,” the unnamed official said.

The Wall Street Journal’s report came months after Iran sent five tankers carrying fuel to Venezuela despite the US warnings.

The tankers – Fortune, Forest, Petunia, Faxon, and Clavel – were sent to Venezuela in May and June to help revive oil refineries in the South American country, which is suffering from a severe fuel shortage caused by US sanctions.

Iran’s fuel shipments drew the ire of the US, which has imposed draconian sanctions on Iran and Venezuela with the aim of crippling their oil sectors.

The post Iran Calls Report on US Capturing Iranian Tankers, a Lie appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Israel to Face Tough Response If Threatens Iranian Tankers

reporter 1222 — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 22:08:02 +0000

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said Iran considers such actions against its oil sales “piracy”, warning Tel Aviv that it will face a tough response if it approaches Iran’s oil tankers.

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He stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran is capable of dealing with this issue adding that the international community will not accept Israel’s move.

“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic will surely provide the security of the shipping lines and the security of the international waterways for themselves and all those who are in the area of responsibility,” he noted.

The warning comes a week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to stop what he called Iran’s “oil smuggling” by intercepting tankers carrying Iranian crude.

He said Israel’s navy will have a more important role in blocking Iran’s effort to bypass US sanctions on its oil sales.

This is not the first time that Iran’s oil exports are being threatened by the enemies of the country. Brian Hook, who is the U.S. special representative for Iran at the US State Department, spoke publicly of the high probability of an incident for Iranian oil tankers earlier this year.

He said these tankers can no longer be insured by international companies and are likely to be insured by Iranian firms.

From the Suez Canal to the Strait of Malacca and all choke points in between, Iranian tankers are now a floating liability, Hook said in a press briefing.

Hook claimed now that sanctions have been reinstated on Iran’s shipping sector, Iranian tankers calling at international ports and passing through waterways pose a major risk.

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Iran Calls Report on US Capturing Iranian Tankers, a Lie

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