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IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS announced that they had confiscated a British tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz for breaking “international maritime rules”.
The Stena Impero tanker “was confiscated by the Revolutionary Guards at the request of Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Organisation when passing through the strait of Hormuz, for failing to respect international maritime rules,” the Guards’ official website Sepahnews announced.
The operator of oil tanker Stena Impero says it is unable to contact the ship after it was approached by unidentified vessels and a helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz.
Northern Marine Management and shipping firm Stena Bulk say in a statement that the vessel was in international waters and is now heading toward Iran. The ship has 23 crew aboard.
The British government says it is urgently seeking information after reports Iran has seized the ship.
The move comes amid tensions between the nations after an Iranian tanker called Grace 1 was detained in Gibraltar, a British overseas territory on Spain’s southern tip.
Authorities said they suspected the tanker was carrying crude to Syria in violation of EU sanctions.
Iran insists the vessel was intercepted in international waters and had threatened to seize a British tanker in response.
- With reporting by © -AFP 2019 and Associated Press
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Up da Iran
@Aidan10: what an idiotic thing to say !
@paul: why?
@Nicholas O’Halloran: you really need to ask ? Wake up
@Nicholas O’Halloran: because he didnt think of it first
If usa and uk can do tit for tat then so can iran
@paul: pretty sure he’s joking..
@paul: Paul, I am sure Iran will release the tanker once they know that it’s not going to or coming from a regime that Iran has sanctions on. Iran has sanctions on countries too, not just england.
@Cal Mooney: go on then cal, which countries does Iran have sanctions against ?
@paul: Well, if you aren’t smart enough to use Google and have no knowledge of the middle East, without even googling, I know they have sanctions against Israel. Now, if you are man enough to admit you didn’t know that, can you Google which other countries Iran has sanctions on instead of trying to go at me.
@paul: please tell me why?
@Aidan10: Moran
@paul: hon Iran, Allah akbar
@Cal Mooney: oh i know how to google. It’s your constant barrage against the”English “. It’s a British boat. Nowhere does it say its English. Can you admit it ? By the way, if you hate the English that much, why don’t you stop using the language. Thalla a chluiche le do deideagan.
Guess the UK were to expect that after seizing the Iranian tanker in the Mediterranean…they clearly acted on behalf of the USA and now they are facing the consequences. I guess it will be a matter of “you release my tanker and I will release yours”…
@Attilio: Or you release our tanker or we will bomb the bollocks out of you maybe?
@Thewestisbest: definitely possible! I fear that if that were to happen the USA or Israel will be hit as retaliation. It’s not good what’s happening. I’m I would blame the USA for starting this mess
@Thewestisbest: I haven’t seen any claims anywhere by any media suggesting Iran plans to murder english civilians by bombing them. Only england and their puppet master suggest such things.
@Attilio: probably not. There are no British crew on the ships. Probably Philippino or some other poor country nationality. Will make the Iranians look even worse. Fairly risk free causus belli for US, UK and Israel. EU will have to get off the fence. Wonder what the Russians and Chinese will do?
@Dave O: I am sure the Iranians will not harm the civilians aboard the ship. Not sure the Americas or the Israeli will do the same. The Russians will back Iran at least with words
@Dave O: Genuine question, do you believe england should be allowed to arrest captain and officers of ships who are peacefully passing through the straits and only entrance to the Mediteranean who pose no military threat? And do you genuinely believe the Iranians should be held to a different standard in the Straits of Hormuz?
@Cal Mooney: I am not trying to state an opinion either way although I do tend to sympathise with the Syrians who were the intended recipients of the original shipments. This probably isn’t about right /wrong, more about win lose. Yanks have been nursing a grudge since 79 and the Iranian regime are no angels. US, UK, Saudis and Israelis won’t tolerate their missiles or nukes. The people most likely to suffer will be the average Iranians who are mostly OK I hear from friends who have been there. It would be sensible for the Iranians to back down but they probably won’t.
@Dave O: I like your sentiment, but I hope you agree that this is a case of White is right. If you support Iran, you are against england and the US who for almost 30 years have declared they want regime change in Iran because they want control of Iran’s resources.
The Brits impounded one of their ships, well done Iran.
@munsterman: they forced Gibraltar to implement legislation only 24 hours before seizing the Iranian tanker. Then they claimed they were only implementing an enacted law. Lets see if Iran does something similar. Then they can stand behind that law no matter what.
@Cal Mooney: Selective facts there cal as usual. The Iranian ship was headed for Syria in breach of EU sanctions.
@paul: Should england be held to the same standards at the entrance to the mefiterannean as the Iranians are held to in the Hormuz Straits. If one country arbitrarily passes a law 24 hours in advance of seizing a non military vessel before seizing it, shouldn’t the other country be supported in doing the same? Or do the english consider themselves superior and think they can do what they want?
@munsterman: you won’t be saying that when fuel price go sky high!
@paul: no reason for any country to respect the sanctions of another. It’s not law for that country.
@paul: Cal is spot on, even if it was going to Syria it was the UK enacting Trumps tearing up of the agreement even in contravention of the still existing EU deal still in place. Puppets and Muppets is what we’re dealing with here, and people here will back Iran v Trump.
All this is a precursor to something
@Donwon999: the ais system onboard was last active around 2hrs 19mins ago
@Donwon999: A British tanker caring crude oil to Syria??Somehow I doubt that.The pressure cooker is about to overheat.We should all be worried.
@Billy McNamara:
Read the srticle again, more slowly this time.
@Billy McNamara: Iran doesn’t have sanctions on Syria. But many groups illegally smuggle oil out of Iran and sell it abroad. I am sure once england can prove where the oil was drilled that Iran will release the tanker. Very hard to prove, but you have to let the law take its course. I am sure you agree.
@The Great Unwashed: So you definitely support Iran for upholding international maritime law in the same vigor that england are holding the Iranian tanker in Gibraltar. Both events are supposedly under the banner if upholding laws. We know england flouts laws at will. Unusual for Iran to do it. Let’s wait and see.
@Cal Mooney: The Stena Impero was empty, it was on the way to Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, to pick up a cargo of oil. Also, the UK seized the Iranian vessel, the MT Grace 1, on July 4th because they claimed it was on its way to Syria with a delivery of oil.
The UK and US are imposing an oil embargo on Syria. The UK via Gibraltar and cite EU sanctions law to support their seizure of the Iranian ship and the US are imposing an oil blockade via occupying eastern Syrian territory previously occupied by ISIS, where Syria’s richest oil/gas reserves are. Previously, the Syrian government was able to buy oil on the black market, with the fall of ISIS, this source has dried up.
@David Jordan: Yeah, u missed have missed the point where Gibraltar parliament were told by england to pass a law making it legal only 24 hrs before they seized the Iranian tanker. england needs to accept that it doesn’t have the Naval power to terrorize the whole world anymore and the seizure if the two tanker just proves their game of bluff shows every country how they are a spent force. Even Iran could take out anything the english throw at them.
@Cal Mooney: Have to laugh. You and these other guys think your all bleedin Saul Berensons.
@Donwon999: That is A fantastic response to people calling out that Iran is only applying the same logic england applied when they seized by force the Iranian tanker. Are you of those people that support england carrying out piracy but condemn other countries and people for using the same system to send a response? Are the english superior in your eyes?
@Billy McNamara: the oil price will rocket
@Cal Mooney: I don’t think either of us completely know all the facts. The British detained a ship carrying 2.1 million litres of oil supposedly destined for Syria of which the EU has an embargo. Who’s to say this wasn’t justified as I’m sure it’s not the innocent people of Syria who’d be benefitting . The Gilbralteese port in which the ship was detained is within the EU. Remember all the refugees fleeing their country? Well the EUs stance is against the regeme and ISIS who are causing this exodus.
“Send in the Fleet” – ooops they don’t have one anymore
@Peter Buchanan: They have plenty to take Iran out. The only bother would be the opposition forces that would hit the streets in Tower Hamlets and the Edgware road.
@Peter Buchanan: haha, we all laughed !
@Thewestisbest: If you think Britain can take on Iran and win, you are in an Alternate Reality. The USA could barely handle Iraq. Iran is 5 times the size of Iraq, Its Mountainous in large areas of it, Its Elite Troops are one of the Best in the World. They have shown time and time again to face down any Super Power, and the UK is far from a Super Power. Iran Know how to hit Ships with their fast agile speed boats, highly undetectable to radar. The troops on those boats are like Navy Seals, at night time they could easily place a mine on a UK ship and destroy it.
@Fred Cahill: Both the UK and the US could obliterate the Iranian navy and Air Force in a couple of days, and if they were arsed could topple Iran in a couple of years on the ground.
@Peter Buchanan: possibly slightly bigger than the part time Irish flotilla …. sorry pocket navy. Nice to feel so smug and superior but I wonder where and how Ireland sources its oil?
Up the iran
Up the iran
@Daithi Ó Raghallaigh:
You logged in with the wrong account.
@The Great Unwashed: Up the Iran. Go on tell me I logged in under the wrong account too.
@Cal Mooney: You logged in with the wrong account…thought it was Wally Mooney. Bit sad the anti-uk stance…up the Iran
Well done Iran.
@Aaronc82: well done when fuel prices go up and you start paying a lot more..
@Gus Sheridan: and that Iran fault? You seem to forget who started this.
Here we go……
@Coco86: Here’s something that will make you sick. A must watch news report about MEK, People’s Mujahedin of Iran, a crazy Iranian religious cult that aims to overthrow the Iranian government.
They were taken off the terrorist watch list only a few years ago. It shows Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich giving their speeches to a MEK conference:
John Boton also gave his speeches to MEK, promised MEK would help overthrow the Iranian government and they would be installed as Iran’s new leaders.
https://theintercept.com/2018/03/23/heres-john-bolton-promising-regime-change-iran-end-2018/
It’s bad enough that the Trump administration now aims regime change in Iran, Obama suspended that policy, but promising to nutty religious cult that they will replace the Iranian government makes things even more insane.
By the way, most of MEK were transported from Iraq to Albania by the US, they now live on a sealed of commune surrounded by high fences.
@David Jordan: the Democrats should be calling Trump out for John Bolton. Not all this other sensationalism.
@Mushy Peas: 100 percent agreed. But england reminds me of that geriatric patient who still thinks he can box like he did in the 1950s and is always mumbling stuff like ‘come in, I dare you’ while his much younger family stare down at their shoes and say apologize. Someone will eventually put manners on them, and maybe the exasperated family will let him take a few knocks before carting him away.
@Cal Mooney: put manners on them ? Haha. By the way, why do you keep saying English ? The ship is British, could be Welsh for all you know
@paul: the Welsh never invaded any country that I know of and then told that country when it comes to foreign relations, you have no veto. Correct me if I am wrong.
@paul: he is anti British obviously
Tit for tat, what did they expect…..a Céad Míle Fáilte….
failte
A bunch of tankers!!
What did England expect after doing America’s dirty work for them…it will be a trade off…give us ours back and you can have yours…silly game but the brits started it
Brewing up for the big one, Saudi’s itching to try out the weapons they’ve been buying from the West, and they’ve already been getting a bit of practice with some of them in the Yemen.
UK Played with Fire by seizing the Iranian Tanker off of Gibraltar at the Behest of the US and got burnt by Iran. The UK will now negotiate with their tail between their legs to return the Iranian Tanker in Exchange plus whatever Iran wants for the inconvenience of their tanker been taken for the return of UK tankers.
A second ship was seized today, the MT Mesdar:
IRGC confirms the seizure of MT Mesdar, they claim it is British.
https://mobile.twitter.com/air_intel/status/1152290977551441927
So that’s three ships sized so far, the UAE owned MT Riah a few days ago, the UK owned Stena Impero and the Liberian flagged Mesdar today (not sure who owns it, might be British).
@David Jordan: You would have to question englands superiority complex at this stage. Do they really expect the Iranians or any other country to be afraid of them? Do they think piracy is OK because we are england? They need to wake up fast. They are almost out of the EU. They have 18 warships and I jest you not, a lot of them are station off the coast of China to scare the second largest maritime force in the world. They keep tell8ng Russia they are ready to go to war with them too. They are deluded.
Just what the world needs at the moment an act of war
@Don: true, the uk illegally seizing an Iranian tanker and then the yanks shooting down drones beside Iran.
@Mr Bordello: takes two to tango and not taking sides, just not what we want at the moment…..
@Don: the old saying “don’t kick a sleeping dog”
This can get real ugly real soon.
@Tony Garcia: *really ugly really soon…
@Tony Garcia: Agreed. What did england hope to achieve by impounding an Iranian ship. Do they really believe Brittania still rules the waves. Well done Iran for an appropriate and measured non violent response.
@Cal Mooney: hehe, your English hate coming out !
@Cal Mooney: It was on behalf of the EU . You are the EU are you not .
@Cal Mooney: Love to see the Iranians try take on a British military ship of some kind, you’d get your answer fairly quick.
@John Smith: U might want to read a little before making comments in future. Gibraltar was told to propose, debate and implement a new law that made the seizure of the Iranian ship legal only 24 hours before the english seized the ship. Without that law, it would have constituted piracy under international law. Go look it up.
@Cal Mooney: You might want to do a bit of reading yourself. It clearly says above that authorities suspected the tanker was carrying crude oil to Syria which is a violation of EU sanctions. I’ll ask you again . You are the EU are you not . The same EU that is enforcing sanctions against Syria .
@John Smith: he’s missed your comment …. twice. He’s Kinda a far left wing version of Trump. Only selective facts matter!
@John Smith: they are Trump sanctions, EU never changed the deal.
It’ll be war so. Can’t have the fuzzy wuzzies getting uppity.
Trump has been picking on Iran now a while he needs a conflict to get 4 more years. Britain needs a conflict to postpone Brexit……for a bit…a war on the cards
Shock and awe on the way .
I hope to God they dont run out of mini pastries in the Stena plus lounge. Then its a real crisis!
Send in the boys from Hereford.
@Barry Hurley: This I would think would be more of a Poole and Clyde job…..
It’s strange that nobody talks about the crew of the vessels.
Will they be sent home once the tankers are berthed? They are just ordinary people going about their day to day work.
False flag
Death to British imperialism!
Victory to Iran!
Read, and repeat after me, ‘If you don’t know your history, you are doomed to repeat it’ . . .www.mintpressnews.com/historys-dire-warning-beware-false-flag-trigger-for-long-sought-war-with-iran/258478/?fbclid=IwAR3eOIML708416AVI4mpgDpjzHxJ8xTu2wKlK_c31fmhxatj4gj3aLKEwI8
Cheap way of putting up the price of oil !
have your say