US threat Archives - Iran News Daily

IMO says will examine naval threats against Iran

reporter 1222 — Sun, 31 May 2020 05:04:35 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Kitack Lim said the UN specialized agency’s legal teams will examine the United States’ naval threats against Iran oil tankers.

In a video call with CEO of Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran Mohammad Rastad, the South Korean chief of IMO said he will be conducting necessary investigations into the case on the basis of conventions and regulations, according to Tasnim News Agency.

Iran has sent a tanker flotilla carrying 1.5 million barrels of gasoline to Venezuela. So far, four out of five tankers have reached the Venezuelan ports.

The US had threatened to take action against the Venezuela-bound tankers and had even dispatched a naval flotilla to the Caribbean Sea.

On May 17, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, warning about the US interference in the issue.

Seeking to deter further shipments of Iranian fuel to Venezuela, the Trump administration has also quietly warned foreign governments, seaports, shipping companies and insurers that they could face stiff US sanctions if they aid the tanker flotilla, the US envoy on Venezuela told Reuters on Friday.

Elliott Abrams, Washington’s special representative on Venezuela, said the pressure campaign targeting heavily sanctioned US foes Iran and Venezuela was being waged “to be sure everyone recognizes this would be a very dangerous transaction to assist.”

The Venezuelan Navy on Thursday escorted the fourth tanker bringing Iranian fuel through its waters to the gasoline-starved country, defying US threats of “measures” in response to the shipments. At least one other tanker was en route in the Atlantic.

It was a sign of deepening ties between Venezuela and Iran, both OPEC members with fraught relations with the United States.

The government of Venezuelan Socialist President Nicolas Maduro has flaunted the tankers’ arrivals to show it remains unbowed by pressure. The United States, which seeks Maduro’s ouster, has called it a “distraction.”

“We’ve alerted the shipping community around the world, ship owners, ship captains, ship insurers, and we’ve alerted ports along the way between Iran and Venezuela,” Abrams said in an interview.

He said diplomatic warnings, known as demarches, have been sent privately to governments “around the world.”

A person familiar with the matter said among them was Gibraltar, situated on the tankers’ route. A US official said various countries had been asked to deny then port services.

It remained unclear what impact this effort might have.

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Swiss Envoy Summoned over Trump Attack Threats

reporter 1222 — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 13:04:19 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Swiss envoy, whose country represents the US interests in Iran, over the recent threats issued by US President Donald Trump.

The Swiss envoy was called in by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi on Sunday and received a strong note of protest over Trump threats that run counter to international norms and regulations.

“The US president’s hostile, threatening and unorthodox comments are not acceptable at all and are in complete violation of international law,” the Iranian deputy foreign minister said.

He also touched on Trump’s threat to strike Iran’s cultural centers, saying such a threat is reminiscent of the Mongols’ invasion or terrorist and criminal groups’ destruction of cultural and historical sites.

Araqchi further said that such moves are regarded as textbook examples of war crimes under international law.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not bow to any threat or intimidation, and stands fully ready to respond to any threat or act against its national security and territorial integrity,” the Iranian deputy minister added.

“History has shown that the Iranian nation will make any aggressor regretful,” he said.

“As demanded by the Iranian government and nation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, in addition to all the political and legal actions it will take, reserves the right to react to the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani at a time and place that it deems appropriate,” Araqchi noted, IFP reported.

The Swiss ambassador, for his part, said he will convey Araqchi’s remarks to the US government.

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites “very hard” if Iran attacks Americans or US assets in retaliation for the assassination of Iranian commander General Qassem Soleimani.

General Soleimani, the deputy head of Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha’abi, and a number of their entourage were killed in a strike by American drones near Baghdad International Airport in the early hours of Friday.

The White House and the Pentagon confirmed the assassination of General Soleimani in Iraq, saying the attack was carried out at the direction of US President Donald Trump.

In a message on Friday morning, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei warned that harsh revenge awaits the criminals behind the martyrdom of General Soleimani.

Ayatollah Khamenei also reminded all friends and enemies of the Iranian general that the resistance path will continue vigorously, stressing that continued battle and ultimate victory will disappoint the murderers and criminals.

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