Alex Christoforou
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the aggressive seizure of a tanker carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria, by the British Royal Marines off the coast of Gibraltar. Police and customs agents say that the tanker was in breach of European Union sanctions.
According to Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/oil-supertanker-bound-syria-held-gibraltar-uk-marines-190704070246306.html), the Grace 1 vessel was boarded early on Thursday when it slowed down in a designated area used by shipping agencies to ferry goods to ships in the UK territory along Spain’s southern coast.
Iran summoned the British ambassador in Tehran over the “illegal seizure” of the oil tanker in Gibraltar, Iranian state TV quoted foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi as saying.
John Bolton, White House national security adviser, applauded the interception of the supertanker.
“Excellent news: UK has detained the supertanker Grace I laden with Iranian oil bound for Syria in violation of EU sanctions,” Bolton said on Twitter.
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UK & EU Do As U.S. Orders, Seizing Oil Tanker En Route To Syria by The Duran
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 229. The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss the aggressive seizure of a tanker carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria, by the British Royal Marines off the coast of Gibraltar. Police and customs agents say that the tanker was in breach of European Union sanctions.
Via Zerohedge…
A huge development Thursday regarding enforcement of Iran sanctions and the West’s economic war on both Damascus and Tehran: British Royal Marines seized an oil tanker in Gibraltar off Spain’s southern coast while it was en route to Syria in what’s being called an unprecedented and aggressive move to enforce EU sanctions.
As critics of the West’s sanctions policy on Syria are noting: the European Union has for years allowed advanced weaponry to flow into the hands of anti-Assad jihadists, but it will act swiftly to block vital oil access to the war-torn and starved population.
Larisa Brown on Twitter: “Pic: Royal Marines from 42 Commando fast-roping from a Wildcat helicopter onto tanker headed to Syria under cover of darkness pic.twitter.com/Wr94HmxQJH / Twitter”
Pic: Royal Marines from 42 Commando fast-roping from a Wildcat helicopter onto tanker headed to Syria under cover of darkness pic.twitter.com/Wr94HmxQJH
According to Reuters:
The Grace 1 tanker was impounded in the British territory at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea, after sailing around Africa from the Gulf. Shipping data reviewed by Reuters suggests it had been loaded with Iranian oil off the coast of Iran, although its documents say the oil is from neighboring Iraq.
Reports say Gibraltar authorities (Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory) acted on EU sanctions that have been in place for years against Syria; however one EU sanctions and legal expert told Reuters: “This is the first time that the EU has done something so public and so aggressive. I imagine it was also coordinated in some manner with the U.S. given that NATO member forces have been involved.”
The ship has been identified as the Grace 1 — a Panamanian-flagged tanker managed by Singapore-based IShips Management Pte Ltd. — which had apparently taken the unusual step of sailing all the way around the tip of Africa instead of the Suez canal from the Iraqi port of Basra.
European officials believe it was on its way to the Syrian port of Banyas and its refinery: “That refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria,” Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said, according to Reuters. “With my consent, our port and law enforcement agencies sought the assistance of the Royal Marines in carrying out this operation,” he added.
Royal Marines boarded and took control of the tanker heading for Syria. — The Daily Star
We noted that as early as the Spring of this year Tehran began running the high risk gambit of restarting its crude transfers to Syria, also at a time Syrian government areas have been feeling the crushing impact of record fuel shortages after the White House imposed new total oil sanctions on Syria.
A previous CNBC report noted that, “Tanker-tracking firms believe Iran is once again shipping crude oil to Syria, resuming the illicit trade as tensions with Washington rise and the Islamic Republic faces increasing international isolation.” Specifically a one million barrel delivery was successfully made through the Syrian port of Baniyas in early May, the first since the end of 2018, according to TankerTrackers.com and ClipperData.
GBC News on Twitter: “GBC footage of detained tanker Grace 1 anchored off the Eastside of Gibraltar. The vessel is believed to be in contravention of EU sanctions against Syria. The operation took place overnight with involvement from Royal Marines, Gibraltar Port and Law Enforcement agencies. pic.twitter.com/dpCCLklFck / Twitter”
GBC footage of detained tanker Grace 1 anchored off the Eastside of Gibraltar. The vessel is believed to be in contravention of EU sanctions against Syria. The operation took place overnight with involvement from Royal Marines, Gibraltar Port and Law Enforcement agencies. pic.twitter.com/dpCCLklFck
Both the Grace 1 as well as prior tankers attempting to reach Syria’s coast are accused of “ghosting” – which involves tankers switching off their transponders at sensitive transit points.
Critics of the West’s renewed devastating fuel sanctions on Syria, which has resulted in miles-long fuel queues outside gas stations – have pointed out that the EU has for years allowed weapons shipments to “rebels” seeking to ouster President Bashar al-Assad, while at the same time starving the populace of fuel.
Rania Khalek on Twitter: “Yes, Europe must not allow Syrians to have fuel!! What arrogant pettiness. And then they complain about migrants leaving countries their stupid sanctions make unlivable https://t.co/oFOaylbvcE / Twitter”
Yes, Europe must not allow Syrians to have fuel!! What arrogant pettiness. And then they complain about migrants leaving countries their stupid sanctions make unlivable https://t.co/oFOaylbvcE
Since the war in Syria started, the sickening pattern has been this: western and gulf weapons pour into Syria’s proxy war, refugees flee the resulting chaos, sanctions strangle the common people further, and refugees who ultimately return then face the West’s renewed slow economic strangulation of the war-torn country.
And we predicted before: the White House still fundamentally prioritizes weakening Syria as crucial in its ultimate goal of regime change in Tehran. In this sense, the “long war” for Syria could merely be in its middle phase, with the waters in both the East Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf set to continue heating up.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
European powers = USA’s b i t c h e s
The West and its allies create the vast majority of refugees and economic migrants in the world!
It’s called terrorism.
USA = Israel bit ches….contrary to the wisdom of the First Amendment Establishment Clause.
Western Europe and Washington acknowledge no offence committed against Syria and Iran.
They can’t bring themselves to morally recognize their trespasses, let alone send them material or monetary compensation.
Might makes right, thugs rule.
All sovereign countries, not aligned with the West, should take heed. Never trust the Western powers, they’re a cesspit of vile snakes.
If this doesn’t intentionally start a war with Iran, I’ll eat my MAGA hat that I never had anyway.
PS: Question to you Brits from an American. If I visit London, is fellatio automatically offered on arrival?
No, you have to go to the House of Lords, or Tory Party headquarters for that. They also like underage boys. Don’t bring your son if you visit.
Thankfully, my son would twist them into a pretzel at first glance. BTW: I spent 2 years in an English-style prep school in NYC long ago. We had two professors, Latin and English who were fruiter than a box of fruit loops so I’m sure Parliament is just as you speak. Nasty creatures too, they were.
I thought piracy was illegal.
Brits call it privateering. They’re good at renaming things to give them an air of legitimacy. Been doing it for centuries.
“They’re good at renaming things to give them an air of legitimacy.”
Why did ‘Integrity Initiative’ suddenly pop into my head?
Privateering is not exactly the same as piracy. Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable items or properties. A privateer is a “privately owned armed vessel commissioned by a belligerent state to attack enemy ships, usually vessels of commerce. Privateering was carried on by all nations from the earliest times until the 19th century. Crews were not paid by the commissioning government but were entitled to cruise for their own profit, with crew members receiving portions… Read more »
Lovely, you should be an adjunct to the US rep at the UN.
British piracy on the high seas. Thought they had long ago overcome that part of their history, but it seems I was wrong.
EU sanctions on Syria are nor endorsed by the UN Security Council, and are thus illegal.
vindictive, cruel, petty and vicious, are words that have accompanied the English Ruling Class around the world for the last 1000 yrs. The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. They will never change. They can’t because they dont want to. They glory if being as as they. They t hink its wonderful to be the lousy sub human things they are. Only when they are finally eliminated – which they will probably do to themselves, eventually, given that no one else in the world seems willing to to do it for them – will the world be cleared of… Read more »
I suspect that soon, they’ll all declare themselves members of the House of Lords, doze off in their chairs and pass away quietly – but not before a few more years of malicious mayhem.
The British Merchant Navy has always been run by the Jews. The City of London is the maggot-infested core of the country. And (((they))) direct “Her Majesty’s Armed Forces” to do their bidding. The foreign policies of the Jewnited Kikedom, the Jewropean Jewnion and the Jewnited States are indistinguishable. Greater Israel, and the swamping of the European and diaspora nations with Third-World refugees as part of the Great Race Replacement.
What a joke the Europeans are, especially the UK with it’s slimy tape worms disguised as politicians.
I would love to be taking notes at a session of the UK lying on a psychiatrist’s couch.
Ha, I made an unintended pun. A two’fer.
I’m sure that the UK courts were consulted and gave their learned opinion about the legality of the vessel’s seizure. LOL I don’t think western civilization has sunk as low as it has of late in the last hundred years, with their rubber-stamp courts. Just look at how Julian Assange was rubber-stamped out of any court-given rights from the very inception of his 7 year nightmare. Was there a rule in their own rule book that they HADN’T broken? I think not. Listening to the UN special rapporteur’s recent background musings on the entire saga and UK’s behavior, that German… Read more »