DUBAI (Reuters) – Iranian forces seized two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Friday, Iranian state media reported, shortly after a warning from Tehran of “punitive measures” against Athens after the U.S. confiscation of Iranian oil in a boarded ship off the coast of Greece.
“The Revolutionary Guards Navy today seized two Greek oil tankers for violation in Gulf waters,” the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement, quoted by state news agency IRNA.
The statement does not give further details or specify what the alleged violations are.
Earlier today, Nour News, which is affiliated with an Iranian state security body, said on Twitter: “Following the seizure of an Iranian tanker by the Greek government and the transfer of its oil to the Americans , #Iran has decided to take punitive measures against #Greece.”
Iranian authorities had also summoned the Swiss charge d’affaires in Tehran, who has represented US interests in the country since the severance of diplomatic ties in 1980, on Friday to protest the seizure of the ship off the coast of Greece, the ministry reported. of Foreign Affairs, quoted by the national media.
“The Islamic Republic has expressed its deep concern over the US government’s continued violation of international laws and international maritime conventions,” the Foreign Office was quoted as saying by state media.
The tanker “Pegas”, under the Russian flag, was seized on April 19 by the Greek authorities under European sanctions against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.
They then confiscated the cargo of Iranian oil held on board and plan to send it to the United States on another vessel, Reuters reported on Thursday.
A spokesperson for the US Department of Justice declined to comment on the oil seizure.
(Dubai office, French version Sophie Louet and Augustin Turpin, edited by Jean-Michel Bélot)