‘Smuggling
fuel’: Iran state TV shows VIDEO of seized tanker days after
UAE-based vessel vanishes
RT,
18
July, 2019
Iran’s
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has released footage showing the
seizure of a ship “smuggling fuel” in the Persian Gulf. The
vessel bears the name of the UAE-owned tanker that recently vanished
in the Gulf.
The
footage shows several Iranian boats circling the tanker, apparently
forcing it to stop. Another video was captured from the ship’s
deck, showing details of the vessel.
The
ship in the video is apparently the MT Riah – a Panamanian-flagged
tanker that went missing on Sunday. Tehran initially said that the
ship experienced technical issues and was towed into Iranian water
for repair.
According
to the IRGC, the incident took place to the south of Iran’s Larak
Island, which is located in the northern part of the Strait of
Hormuz. The vessel had 12 crewmembers on board when it was detained,
the IRGC said, giving no further information on their names or
nationalities.
The
ship has allegedly been engaging into repeated trips between
different emirates of the UAE – presumably carrying oil or fuel.
But an Emirati security official earlier denied that the UAE owns or
operates the vessel, adding that ‘Riah’ did not send a distress
call during the incident.
The
incident with the MT Riah came shortly after another
Panamanian-flagged vessel, Grace 1, was seized by the UK in the
Strait of Gibraltar. The British claimed the vessel was carrying
Iranian crude to fuel-strapped Syria and therefore was violating EU
sanctions. Tehran reacted angrily to the arrest of the ship,
comparing it to an act of piracy and berating London for kowtowing to
the US.
From the warmongering western media
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