S. Korean Ship Captured for Technical Issue: Iranian Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh cited technical reasons behind the seizure of a South Korean-flagged vessel by the IRGC naval forces in the Persian Gulf, saying the vessel was creating environmental hazard.
Asked by reporters about the news of the Korean vessel's seizure, Khatibzadeh described it as a technical issue.
“Based on initial reports coming from local authorities, the issue is completely technical, and the vessel was led ashore upon a judicial order because it had been polluting the sea,” the spokesman said on Monday night.
“Like other countries, the Islamic Republic of Iran is sensitive about such offences, especially polluting the marine environment; so, it deals with such offences in accordance with the law,” he added.
“This was not an exceptional incident, and similar incidents had earlier occurred in Iran and in other countries’ waters, and it is something usual, and further information will be announced accordingly,” Khatibzadeh said.
The IRGC Navy seized the South Korean-flagged oil tanker, named HANKUK CHEMI, on Monday morning.
The tanker, which had departed from Saudi Arabia’s Al Jubail port, was carrying 7,200 tons of oil chemical materials in violation of environmental regulations.
The oil tanker has berthed at Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas for legal procedures to be performed by the Iranian Judiciary officials.