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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/15/us-moves-to-block-release-of-iranian-vessel-in-gibraltar
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| US applies to seize Iranian tanker held in Gibraltar | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US has applied to a court in Gibraltar to seize an Iranian tanker detained for breaching international sanctions on oil shipments as it ratchets up pressure on Iran and Syria. | The US has applied to a court in Gibraltar to seize an Iranian tanker detained for breaching international sanctions on oil shipments as it ratchets up pressure on Iran and Syria. |
| Trump administration officials told the Guardian that the surprise US request, which complicated efforts by the UK government and the British overseas territory to defuse tensions with Tehran, was consistent with wider efforts by Washington to intensify the effect of existing western economic sanctions on the two countries. | |
| A US official said that the tanker case was significant because “it’s both an Iranian regime oil export and, in the judgment of HMG [the UK government] it’s an Assad regime oil import”. | |
| The official added: “We have an interest in the disruption of both of those both for our overarching Iran policy and our Syria policy.” | The official added: “We have an interest in the disruption of both of those both for our overarching Iran policy and our Syria policy.” |
| Earlier on Thursday, the Gibraltar government confirmed that the US Department of Justice had sought to extend the detention of the oil tanker Grace 1, prompting the supreme court in the territory to adjourn a scheduled decision on whether to release the ship until later in the day. | Earlier on Thursday, the Gibraltar government confirmed that the US Department of Justice had sought to extend the detention of the oil tanker Grace 1, prompting the supreme court in the territory to adjourn a scheduled decision on whether to release the ship until later in the day. |
| “The US Department of Justice has applied to seize the Grace 1 on a number of allegations which are now being considered,” the government said in a statement, adding that the matter would be reviewed by the court at 4pm (1400 GMT). | “The US Department of Justice has applied to seize the Grace 1 on a number of allegations which are now being considered,” the government said in a statement, adding that the matter would be reviewed by the court at 4pm (1400 GMT). |
| The American action would appear to counteract efforts by the UK to calm tensions with Iran. British officials said that the UK was notified in advance by the US of its intention to challenge the release of the tanker in the courts – but would not say immediately when that had occurred. | |
| Earlier this week, the hawkish US national security adviser, John Bolton, met the UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, and several senior cabinet members during his two-day visit to London. | |
| British officials would not say whether the subject of the tanker had immediately come up. “The US is a close ally and we engage with them routinely on matters of national security,” a spokesman said. | |
| Britain’s Foreign Office said in a statement that the “investigations conducted around the Grace 1 are a matter for the government of Gibraltar” and that it could not comment further as the investigation was still under way. | Britain’s Foreign Office said in a statement that the “investigations conducted around the Grace 1 are a matter for the government of Gibraltar” and that it could not comment further as the investigation was still under way. |
| Grace 1 was seized by British Royal Marines off Gibraltar on 4 July on suspicion that it was taking 2.1m barrels of oil to Syria in breach of an EU arms embargo. At the time, Bolton hailed the seizure describing it as “excellent news” at the time. | Grace 1 was seized by British Royal Marines off Gibraltar on 4 July on suspicion that it was taking 2.1m barrels of oil to Syria in breach of an EU arms embargo. At the time, Bolton hailed the seizure describing it as “excellent news” at the time. |
| The Grace 1 seizure led to reprisals by Iran, including the capture of the British-flagged Stena Impero. Both incidents fuelled worsening hostilities between Iran and the west that began when Washington pulled out of an international agreement curbing Iran’s nuclear programme last year and reimposed economic sanctions. | The Grace 1 seizure led to reprisals by Iran, including the capture of the British-flagged Stena Impero. Both incidents fuelled worsening hostilities between Iran and the west that began when Washington pulled out of an international agreement curbing Iran’s nuclear programme last year and reimposed economic sanctions. |
| In a separate development, the Gibraltar Chronicle reported that the captain and three officers of the Grace 1 had been released from arrest on Thursday. A Gibraltar government spokesman declined to comment. | In a separate development, the Gibraltar Chronicle reported that the captain and three officers of the Grace 1 had been released from arrest on Thursday. A Gibraltar government spokesman declined to comment. |
| Speaking in court, the chief justice of Gibraltar, Anthony Dudley, said that were it not for the US move, “the ship would have sailed”, the Chronicle reported. | Speaking in court, the chief justice of Gibraltar, Anthony Dudley, said that were it not for the US move, “the ship would have sailed”, the Chronicle reported. |
| During his trip to the UK Bolton made further diplomatic efforts to steer a post-Brexit UK further away from Europe on a range of issues including the Iran nuclear deal and the role of the Chinese technology firm Huawei. | |
| Bolton is hoping that a Johnson administration will gradually adopt a foreign policy on Iran more independent of its two former EU partners Germany and France after Brexit, and closer to the policy of maximum economic pressure on Tehran imposed by Donald Trump. | Bolton is hoping that a Johnson administration will gradually adopt a foreign policy on Iran more independent of its two former EU partners Germany and France after Brexit, and closer to the policy of maximum economic pressure on Tehran imposed by Donald Trump. |
| Earlier this month, Iran accused the US of engaging in “economic terrorism” against its people. The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, also warned Britain that acting in concert with the Trump administration would bring about a response from Tehran. | Earlier this month, Iran accused the US of engaging in “economic terrorism” against its people. The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, also warned Britain that acting in concert with the Trump administration would bring about a response from Tehran. |
| During a briefing Zarif accused the US of seeking “to tie the ‘bread’ to ‘politics’” and added: “Britain is an accomplice in US economic terrorism, and this complicity will definitely bring about consequences for them.” | During a briefing Zarif accused the US of seeking “to tie the ‘bread’ to ‘politics’” and added: “Britain is an accomplice in US economic terrorism, and this complicity will definitely bring about consequences for them.” |
| Associated Press contributed to this report | Associated Press contributed to this report |
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| Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
| US foreign policy | US foreign policy |
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| Gibraltar | Gibraltar |
| Europe | Europe |
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