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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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| Gibraltar says it will free oil tanker at centre of Iran row | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Gibraltar has said it will allow a detained Iranian oil tanker to be released after Tehran gave the territory’s government an assurance that it would not allow its cargo to be discharged in Syria, according to local reports. | |
| But the decision could yet be challenged by the US, which earlier applied to seize the Grace 1, which was detained on suspicion of breaching international sanctions on oil shipments to the regime of Bashar al-Asssad. | |
| Trump administration officials told the Guardian that the seizure request, which will complicate efforts by the UK government to defuse tensions with Tehran, was consistent with wider efforts by Washington to intensify the effect of western economic sanctions. | |
| A US official said 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.” | A US official said 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.” |
| The American action would appear to counteract efforts by the UK to calm tensions with Iran. British officials said they were notified in advance by the US of its intention to challenge the release of the tanker in the courts, but they would not say immediately when that had occurred. | The American action would appear to counteract efforts by the UK to calm tensions with Iran. British officials said they were notified in advance by the US of its intention to challenge the release of the tanker in the courts, but they would not say immediately when that had occurred. |
| This week the hawkish US national security adviser, John Bolton, met the UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, and several senior cabinet members during a two-day visit to London. | This week the hawkish US national security adviser, John Bolton, met the UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, and several senior cabinet members during a two-day visit to London. |
| British officials would not say whether the subject of the tanker came up. “The US is a close ally and we engage with them routinely on matters of national security,” a government spokesman said. | British officials would not say whether the subject of the tanker came up. “The US is a close ally and we engage with them routinely on matters of national security,” a government spokesman said. |
| The Foreign Office said the “investigations conducted around the Grace 1 are a matter for the government of Gibraltar” and it could not comment further as the investigation was under way. | The Foreign Office said the “investigations conducted around the Grace 1 are a matter for the government of Gibraltar” and it could not comment further as the investigation was 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”. | 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”. |
| 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 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 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. |
| Bolton, during his trip to the UK, 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, during his trip to the UK, 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. |
| This month Iran accused the US of engaging in “economic terrorism” against its people. The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned Britain that acting in concert with the Trump administration would bring about a response from Tehran. | This month Iran accused the US of engaging in “economic terrorism” against its people. The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, warned Britain that acting in concert with the Trump administration would bring about a response from Tehran. |
| Zarif said: “Britain is an accomplice in US economic terrorism, and this complicity will definitely bring about consequences for them.” | Zarif said: “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 |
| Iran | Iran |
| Gibraltar | Gibraltar |
| Middle East and North Africa | Middle East and North Africa |
| US foreign policy | US foreign policy |
| Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
| Europe | Europe |
| news | news |
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