As the article states, the US's seizure of Iran's tankers appears to be related to the sanctions against Russia. Essentially, it's a tit for tat, but worth noting that the primary cause seems to be the sanctions that the US and other nations have put on Russia. Tehran’s troops boarded two Greek oil tankers after Athens enabled the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel Iranian soldiers seized two oil tankers flying the Greek flag in the Persian Gulf, while Tehran protested the confiscation of one of its own vessels in Greek waters earlier this week, calling it US "piracy". Washington reportedly plans to sell the ship's oil cargo, which was confiscated under sanctions targeting Russia. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy troops used helicopters to board the tankers Delta Poseidon and Prudent Warrior on Friday, the industry monitor Lloyd’s List reported. The ships were later escorted by naval vessels from international traffic lanes to Iranian waters a few miles off the coast. The Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed the seizure of the two vessels and demanded their release. Iranian media likewise confirmed the capture of the ships, making clear it was reprisal against the actions of the Greek government. More than 25% of the world's tankers fly the Greek flag. The move came as the US government seized a cargo of Iranian crude oil in April from a Russia-flagged tanker being held in Greek waters and chartered a Greek-owned tanker to transport the oil back to the US. The Russian government claims there were no legal grounds to impound the vessel. Iran seizes Greek tankers after US ‘piracy’ | RT.com Iran and Russia are both oil-producing countries. It looks like the US seized a tanker that was carrying Iranian crude oil, because allegedly that tanker had connections to Russia, and so was declared to be in violation of the sanctions against Russia. The US then pretty much stole that oil and had it transported to the US. The US considers it legal according to US law, believing it has the right to seize cargo onboard ships that violate US-imposed sanctions. The seized vessel unintentionally ended up in Greek waters due to engine failure and inclement weather, and it seems the Greek government gave permission to the US to capture the vessel. Which is why the Russian government blames the Greek government. If the US really did unjustly seize the Iranian tanker, is what Iran did so different?
The free world will live in fear when the fanatic Ayatullas will gain nuclear weapon. They are not like North Korea or other dictators, they are extreme hypocrites who in the name of God will destroy all infidels
Wait, can we legally enforce sanctions against countries that never agreed to participate in them? Or are we just doing it because theres not much Iran can do about it? Seems kinda shitty. And scary. We're basically just turning the whole world into 'with Ukraine' or 'against US'. Thats how to turn a small war into a big war. I guess we might find out whether women can be drafted or not after all...
First off, I will point out a mistake: you had presumably meant to say, "Which is why the Iranian government blames the Greek government (otherwise, you have left some info out of your OP)." My question to you is, why does Iran need to use Russian- flagged tankers, to transport it's oil?
The answer is simple. Russia has a larger industrial base than Iran. It just makes more economic sense. If you want to go back into historical details, it probably has to do with Russia having more coal, since it is in a more northerly location that had more forests.
For what destination was this oil bound? Why would not the purchaser of the Iranian crude not be expected to transport it, themself?
Syria? The Royal Navy seized a tanker of Iranian oil going to Syria in 2019. Royal Marines boarded it off Gibraltar and detained it for a month. https://www.businessinsider.com/royal-marines-seize-iran-oil-tanker-gibraltar-2019-7?r=US&IR=T
The oil was apparently headed to Turkey. Which is another somewhat interesting aspect to this story. Due to pressure from NATO, Turkey cannot get its oil from Russia now, and is experiencing economic difficulty as a result. Stopping shipments of Iranian oil carried by ships with Russian connections is just going to squeeze the economy of Turkey even more. It's almost as if the US is telling Turkey that its level of sanctions it has pressured them into are not enough. Even though Turkey's economy is already hurting and they are experiencing high levels of inflation as a result.
Exactly, that is a critical concern. The vessel did end up in Greek-claimed territorial waters in the Mediterranean Sea, even though entering those waters was not intentional. The argument would apparently be that once the vessel entered Greek waters, the vessel fell under Greek legal jurisdiction, and the government administration of Greece then endowed those jurisdictional powers over to the US. One question that could be asked, I suppose, is what would be the legal status if Russia or Iran attempted to seize back a vessel in international waters that the US had previously seized from them? Would that be "piracy"? To try to steal back a vessel that another country had stolen from you? Something tells me that such a situation is not actually covered in treaty or international law.
That is the central question and is kind of what this story hinges on. The technical legal argument from the U.S. would be that the vessel ended up in Greek waters, which supposedly gives the Greek government legal jurisdiction (at the behest of the U.S.) to enforce sanctions, and confiscate the ship.
The problem with that concept, though, is that Turkey did not join in Western sanctions against Russia. https://carnegieendowment.org/politika/88349 <Snip> Having declined to join Western sanctions against Russia, Turkey has become the only remaining window to Europe for Russian companies and individuals. <End> P.S.-- The subject of the article, is Turkey's growing influence, with Moscow.
You are inventing a seemingly imaginary situation. When those tankers are seized, they are brought to port. When would they return to "international waters?" You understand, the ships are not confiscated and then re-launched, refit with another country's flag, right?
I think you misunderstand or are getting confused. So what? It's a very legitimate question, and helps us see this real situation for what it is. Seems like you didn't read the story. To be honest, I can't be bothered to address all the issues you raise, because it doesn't seem to be very well thought out. You obviously seem to not have a good grasp of the story or have not given it much thought.
