Tag: Sanctions

UK's Prime Minister Theresa May will meet with Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo on July 17, aiming to discuss the detained Iranian oil tanker Grace 1. In addition to the tanker, Ms. May and Mr. Picardo will also discuss Brexit. British Royal Marines captured the oil tanker in Gibraltar on June 27, after being accused of bringing oil to Syria, thus breaching EU sanctions. 

An Israeli NGO asked a court in Gibraltar to seize and sell the Iranian-controlled tanker Grace 1 to please a US court judgement. The vessel was seized on July 4 by the UK Royal Marines while passing near Gibraltar. 

The Iranian supertanker 'Grace 1', that was seized by Royal Marines near Gibraltar over suspected breach of EU sanctions earlier in July, could be released if the UK is guaranteed the oil is not bound for Syria, said UK Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

Amid an ongoing diplomatic tension globally, Panama said it will withdraw its flag from vessels that violate sanctions and international legislation, the Panama Maritime Authority told Reuters. This comes following removal of about 60 ships linked to Iran and Syria from the Panamanian registry in recent months. 

The Royal Gibraltar Police has arrested the Indian Captain and Chief Officer of the Iranian tanker 'Grace 1', a few days after the ship was seized suspected of breaching EU sanctions by shipping oil to Syria. This followed an examination of documents and electronic devices onboard.

The EU plans to curb contracts and funding for Ankara, following Turkey's, what is said to be, illegal drilling for gas and oil off Cyprus, as Reuters reports. During a meeting in Brussels the EU reported that it would introduce stricter measures against Turkey, under the condition that Ankara continues drilling operations.

As the British Government informed today (June 11), three Iranian vessels tried to block the passage of a ship, called 'British Heritage', through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the Iranian ships backed down after warnings from a British warship. The warship 'HMS Montrose' got between the Iranian vessels and 'British Heritage', while it issued verbal warnings to the Iranian ships.

British Royal Marines captured an oil tanker in Gibraltar on June 27, after being accused of bringing oil to Syria, thus breaching EU sanctions. This could be considered a dramatic step that could escalate tensions between the West and Iran. Grace 1 tanker was seized in UK territory, after sailing around Africa from the Gulf.

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated two companies that operate in the oil sector of the Venezuelan economy, pursuant to E.O. 13850, as amended. OFAC has also identified two vessels, which transported oil from Venezuela to Cuba, as blocked property owned by the two companies. 

The United Arab Emirates has released a Qatari naval vessel and four sailors who were on board the ship and held for about a week. This comes during a boycott of Doha by the federation and three more Arab nations. Qatar claimed that that the boat was carrying out routine operations in Qatari territorial waters when it suffered a 'technical fault.'