US Seizes Russia-Flagged Tanker Full Of Iranian Oil Near Greece

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...nian-oil-near-greece

Fresh off of the US targeting a series of companies involved in an Iran-linked oil smuggling network, the US has now seized an oil tanker near Greece, taking the Iranian oil within to be sent to the US.

So Iran retaliates:

Iran Seizes 2 Greek Tankers In Gulf As Retaliation For US Taking Oil

https://www.zerohedge.com/geop...s-taking-iranian-oil

Iranian military operatives have seized two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Friday. The Associated Press initially reported that the US Navy is "looking into" the reports. The tankers were boarded in international waters in the gulf, with the AP in follow-up saying that IRGC operatives now have control of the ships.

The IRGC has announced it is in possession of the seized vessels, with Bloomberg reporting, "The Guard's announcement comes as tensions remain high between Iran and the West over stalled negotiations regarding its rapidly advancing nuclear program." And more according to the AP:

Neither the US nor Russia is commenting. Greece says the US informed them the oil was Iranian, and that the US hired a different ship to take the oil to America. Iran has summoned the Greek charges d’affaires and called the incident a "clear example of piracy."

The US accused the tanker of loading 700,000 Bbls of oil from Iran in August 2021. The tanker mostly sent oil to China.

Earlier in the week The Maritime Executive detailed that "The story of a shadowy Russian oil tanker took a new turn... as the U.S. Department of Justice seized the oil aboard the vessel and according to reports is in the process of transferring the oil to the United States on a chartered tanker."

"The vessel was detained nearly seven weeks ago in Greece when authorities thought it was covered by the European Union sanctions on Russian assets, but later held for mechanical deficiencies while watchdog groups announced that it was actually smuggling sanctioned Iranian oil."

The report continued: "The Aframax tanker arrived off Greece early in April with reports of a possible mechanical failure and indications that they were looking for assistance to make repairs to continue their voyage. When she anchored south of the Greek island of Evia the 115,520 dwt tanker was being identified as the Russian-flagged Pegas." And the initial "assumption at the time was that it was laden with a Russian crude oil cargo," according to the report.

The seizure of the tanker, and oil, comes amid tensions on the ongoing nuclear talks. Iran believes, and not unfairly, that the oil was just stolen from them, and the US position, while yet to be public, is that the oil is now theirs.

It’s not a great precedent, but generally Iran can’t do much about it, and the US is keen to have the oil.


Earlier this month:

Pentagon, CENTCOM deny reports US refueling planes took part in Israel Iran-strike drill

https://www.jns.org/pentagon-c...l-iran-strike-drill/

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied Israeli media reports claiming U.S. Air Force refueling planes participated in an Israeli military exercise simulating a strike on Iran.

CENTCOM spokesman Col. Joe Buccino said a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker had conducted a “dry refueling mission” with American and Israeli jets, but that it was “not tied to” Israel’s ongoing “Chariots of Fire” exercise, which began earlier this month, The War Zone online magazine reported on May 18.

According to Buccino, the fuel tankers simulated refueling two U.S. F-15s and four Israeli F-16s, but that the timing of the refueling exercise was coincidental.

“There is no direct U.S. military involvement in that exercise,” Buccino said, referring to “Chariots of Fire.”

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Rob Lodewick also denied that the Department of Defense was “directly participating” in the exercise, according to the report.

“A small number of personnel from across U.S. Central Command are observing portions of the exercise,” Lodewick added.

On May 17, Channel 13 reported that as part of the month-long “Chariots of Fire” drill, Israeli fighter jets would simulate a strike on Iran together with U.S. mid-air refueling planes.

On May 18, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi led an honor guard at IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv to receive the new commander of CENTCOM, Maj. Gen. Michael Kurilla, on his first official visit to Israel.

On May 19, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who is on an official state visit to Washington.

According to the Pentagon’s readout of the meeting, Austin “reiterated the United States’ ironclad commitment to Israel’s security and to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge.”

The two also discussed ways to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and addressed Iran’s destabilizing actions throughout the region.

quote:

Originally posted by wcb6092:

...The two also discussed ways to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and addressed Iran’s destabilizing actions throughout the region.

Gee, maybe SecDef should tell us his boss to give on on his incredibly stupid plan to bring Iran back into the nuclear deal (JCPOA).

I thought Biden was busy getting us to war with Russia or China?

We'll, he's a Globalist, so he's going global...

The Biden administration supposedly doesn't want to go to war with Russia which is why they blocked the transfer of Poland's Migs to Ukraine but it's not provocative for the US to sieze Russia-flagged tankers???

Dont worry folks. President Applesauce-chin will tell his Secretary of Defense to invade Panama. That will teach em a lesson!!

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
The Biden administration supposedly doesn't want to go to war with Russia which is why they blocked the transfer of Poland's Migs to Ukraine but it's not provocative for the US to sieze Russia-flagged tankers???

When ya don't think these retards could possibly screw up anything else, we get this. Why not light the entire world on fire Joey? War in Ukraine, the US seizing whatever assets they want wherever they want around the world, sending more US troops to Somalia, destroying US petroleum production and the US economy with it, and targeting US citizens as enemies, I wonder where the incontinent, drooling, retard will go next.