U.S. seizes Iranian fuel cargoes for first time: WSJ

[Eugene]

Original report: U.S. Seizes Iranian Fuel Cargoes for First Time

______________________________________________________________________

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS AUGUST 13, 2020 / 6:17 PM / UPDATED 19 MINUTES AGO

U.S. seizes Iranian fuel cargoes for first time: WSJ

(Reuters) - The U.S. government has for the first time seized vessels allegedly loaded with Iranian fuel in violation of sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing U.S. officials.

U.S. prosecutors filed a lawsuit last month to seize the gasoline aboard four tankers that Iran is trying to ship to Venezuela, the latest attempt by the Trump administration to increase economic pressure on the two U.S. foes.

The lawsuit aimed to stop the flow of revenues from oil sales to Iran, which Washington has sanctioned over its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and influence across the Middle East. Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

The four vessels, called Luna, Pandi, Bering and Bella, were seized on the high seas in recent days and are now en route to Houston, the WSJ said on.wsj.com/3auMVJ2, citing the officials, adding that senior administration officials are expected to meet the tankers at an event scheduled to mark the docking.

The report, citing one official, said the vessels had been taken over without the use of military force, but did not provide any details.

Reporting by Rama Venkat in Bengaluru; Editing by David Gregorio

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-cargo/u-s-seizes-iranian-fuel-cargoes-for-first-time-wsj-idUSKCN25935H

[FirstLight]

1. oh no

I dont like the sound of this

[Budi]

2. Wait for the retaliation...😟

Damn!

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Retaliation so far was said to be the seizure by Iran of another Greek-owned ship

Iranian action against another ship on Wednesday in the Gulf was in retaliation against the Greek owner of some of the vessels that were carrying the fuel cargoes, the government source and two shipping sources said.

U.S. prosecutors filed a lawsuit in July to seize the gasoline aboard the four tankers, and a judge subsequently issued a warrant for seizure. The fuel cannot be seized until the tankers carrying it enter U.S. territorial waters.

The owners of the four vessels agreed to have the fuel transferred to other vessels so it could be shipped to the United States, a U.S. government source said on Thursday. The warrant only covered the cargoes, not the vessels.
...
The four tankers that initially carried the cargoes were the Liberia-flagged Bella, Bering, Pandi and Luna. They are owned and managed by companies controlled by Greece-based firms Vienna LTD and Palermo SA. The fifth vessel, the Wila, which was boarded by Iranian forces near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, is owned by Bandit Shipping and controlled by Greece-based IMS SA.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran-cargo-warrant/tankers-ship-iranian-fuel-cargoes-to-u-s-for-seizure-idUSKCN25A025

But each side says the other's seizures have failed:

The US Justice Department said that following the seizure, Iran's navy made an unsuccessful bid to board an "unrelated ship" in an "apparent attempt to recover the seized petroleum."
...
Iranian Ambassador to Venezuela Hojat Soltani described reports of the seizures as "false propaganda".

"This is another lie and act of psychological warfare perpetrated by the US propaganda machine," he wrote on Twitter.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53783179

[Budi]

7. Good read. Thanks

[SheltieLover]

3. I keep saying

DHS needs to remand him to custody now!

Coulda shoulda woulda won't help if he nukes something.

He is a clear & present danger.

Time to think outside the proverbial box & have intel lock him up.

[sandensea]

4. The Fat Bastard won't stop trying to wag the dog

War is a real possibility, as long as Orange Amin is in office.

[soryang]

6. they are out of their minds

Pompeo is delusional too. So is Pence.