The hostage-taking of the two Greek-flagged tankers held by the Iranian authorities will go on for a long time. This is what diplomatic authorities point out to protothema.gr who have formed a general picture and add:
"What upset the Iranians was the stop of the Russian-owned tanker Pegas in Karystos and the confiscation of the cargo, but the straw that broke the camel's back was the decision of the Greek government to load the oil on a Greek tanker of a well-known Greek shipowner and send it to Texas. They saw it as a kind of casus belli."
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The Greek-owned shipping industry was not surprised by the Iranian move to launch a commando raid and seize the two Greek-flagged ships, the 157-capacity vessel, in retaliation.400-dwt Delta Poseidon built in 2011 and the 150,000-ton capacity Prudent Warrior built in 2017.
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Explained to protothema.gr. The unexpected. Iran is accustomed to using this tactic of taking hostage ships flying the flag of a country with which it has a dispute or other types of differences in the logic of "one for you and one for me."
When Iran did it again to Britain
The UK government, which issued a new statement yesterday siding with Greece and asking Iran to release the two tankers, is passionate and knows it. On July 4, 2019, British authorities stopped the Iranian-owned tanker Grace 1 in Gibraltar for violating sanctions. A few days later, Iranian authorities seized the British-flagged ship Stena Impero in retaliation. The ship was of Swedish interest but registered in the British registry.
The case ended with the seizure of the cargo and the release of the crew two months later on 27 September 2019. "You don't play with the Iranians," a diplomatic official tells protothema: "If they did it in the past, why not do it again?"
As for the other Greek-flagged ships sailing in the Persian Gulf, he pointed out: "The assessment we have is that they will stop at this action. The assessment is that they will stop their action. The other Greek-flagged ships will not be affected except for the time being."
What everyone agrees on, and because of a history of such incidents, is that the crews are in no danger except for the shock of the cruiser attack and the discomfort. It is the message they want to send that challenges and attacks on their interests by third countries will not go unanswered. They want to emphasize that Iran is a force to be reckoned with," diplomatic circles said, taking the point a little further: "Iran is waiting for talks on the US embargo and suddenly Greece is in the middle."
According to information that remains to be confirmed, the Iranians plan to let the crew leave holding the tankers "captive".[/B]
Shipping circles argue that the detention of the Russian tanker in Karystos and the seizure of the cargo contradicts what is happening since "Russian and Iranian-owned ships carrying cargo from these countries 'circulate' without problems in many other countries. Maritime trade continues as normal. That is why the Iranians were surprised by the Greek government's moves, let alone that the Russian ship was not bound for Greece but was anchored in Karystos due to damage."
Iran's official maritime organization, the Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO), said last Saturday that the two tankers were seized due to unspecified "maritime violations." It added that the matter was under investigation "based on evidence and documents."
The PMO also stressed that the crews of both ships were not arrested and were in good health and "protected in accordance with international law and provided with necessary services."
Forayne Ophis
Meanwhile, following actions by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Forayne Ophis has sided with Greece for the second time over the seizure of the two Greek ships by the Revolutionary Guards. The new statement from the British Foreign Office stresses. Iran's actions pose a serious threat to maritime security and violate the fundamental principles of freedom of navigation. We call on Iran to immediately release the crew and the two ships."
Anthony Blinken
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken condemned Iran's seizure of the two Greek tankers in the strongest possible terms during a conversation earlier Monday with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias. In its statement on the ministers' conversation, the US State Department said it condemns "in the strongest possible terms the seizure of the two Greek-flagged ships by the Revolutionary Guards."
Continued harassment and interference with navigation rights and freedoms is a threat to maritime security and the global economy. The two ministers, it is further stressed, agreed that Iran must immediately release the ships, their cargo and crews.
The US stands with Greece, "our key NATO ally and partner in light of this unwarranted seizure," the US department stressed.
Source: Proto Thema
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
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