Gibraltar authorites defy US to release Iranian tanker

Gibraltar Supreme Court Orders Release Of Iranian Oil Tanker Defying Trump's Orders

Authorities in Gibraltar have released the Iranian oil tanker Grace 1, after receiving assurances that its cargo is not destined for Syria. The US had formally requested them to detain the vessel for a further period.

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo agreed to lift the detention on the ship, however, after Tehran gave written assurances that its cargo – 2.1 million barrels of oil – would not be unloaded in Syria.

“In light of the assurances we have received, there are no longer any reasonable grounds for the continued legal detention of the Grace 1 in order to ensure compliance with the EU Sanctions Regulation,” he said.

Dan Sabbagh

✔@dansabbagh

 · 12h

Key part of the statement from Gibraltar's chief minister explaining why he has agreed to release Grace 1 following assurances from Iran. But notes that US has applied to the local courts to detain the tanker further

Dan Sabbagh

✔@dansabbagh

First page of the Grace 1 tanker release statement is here. Did John Bolton lobby Boris Johnson over this and fail to get what he wanted - hence the legal action?

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2:54 AM - Aug 16, 2019

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The United States  requested the government of Gibraltar not to release the tanker.

“The US Department of Justice has applied to seize the Grace 1 on a number of allegations, which are now being considered,” the Gibraltar government said in a statement,adding that the issue would be reviewed in the courts later on Thursday afternoon.

Iran’s ambassador to the UK, Hamid Baeidinejad,  called Washington's move  "its desperate, last-minute efforts, intended to prevent the release of the [Grace 1] oil tanker from detention" that ended with "humiliation.” 

https://www.rt.com/news/466570-grace-released-gibraltar-us-iran/

Gibraltar releases Iran oil 

tanker: Will US seize it 

anyway? | DW News

From Iran's Press TV

An update 

The authorities of Gibraltar ruled earlier on Thursday to release the tanker, which was captured on 4 July on suspicion of transporting oil to Syria in alleged violation of EU sanctions.


Spokesperson for the US Department of State Morgan Ortagus claimed in a statement on Thursday, that Grace 1 "was assisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by transporting oil from Iran to Syria" and this "could result in serious consequences for any individuals associated with the Grace 1". Ortagus warned that the US "intends to revoke visas held by members of such crews".



According to the Gibraltar Chronicle newspaper, the US Department of Justice sought to seize Grace 1 mere hours before Gibraltar was poised to set it free. The vessel, however, was still released, albeit a few hours after the supertanker’s captain and three crew members were freed.

https://sputniknews.com/us/201908161076561696-us-threatens-visa-ban-on-crew-of-iranian-grace-1-oil-tanker---report/