A last-minute US warrant to seize an Iranian tanker preparing to leave Gibraltar after weeks of detention cast doubt over its departure on Saturday, prolonging a diplomatic spat between Tehran, London and Washington.
The US Justice Department alleged the ship was part of a scheme ‘to unlawfully access the US financial system to support illicit shipments to Syria from Iran by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,’ which Washington has designated a foreign terrorist organisation.
There was no comment from Britain or Gibraltar, its overseas territory, over whether they would act on the warrant.
Richard de la Rosa, managing director of Astralship, the vessel’s …read more
Source: Gulf times
