Spokesman Advises UK to Free Iranian Oil Tanker
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi urged the UK government to release an Iranian oil tanker it has illegally seized in the international waters off the coast of Gibraltar.
In an interview with IRNA, Mousavi warned the UK not to play a “dangerous and unclear” game created by the US, advising London to avoid the American ploy for the capture of Iran’s supertanker.
“We still call on them (the UK) to release the oil tanker as soon as possible, because it would be in the interests of everyone,” he underlined.
The spokesman also reiterated that the British excuse for seizing the Iranian vessel is not legitimate, as the Grace 1 supertanker was not bound for Syria and the EU is not allowed to impose extraterritorial sanctions on the others.
Last week, the British Royal Marines seized the giant Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar for trying to take oil to Syria allegedly in violation of EU sanctions.
Tehran maintains that the supertanker was not bound for Syria and its seizure has taken place at the behest of the US.
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri has warned that the UK hostile measure will not go unanswered, saying, “If necessary, the response to such a shameful move will be put on the agenda, at an appropriate time and place.”
