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British Seizure of Iranian Tanker Draws Tehran's Wrath

Jamie Dettmer

   The impounding off the coast of Gibraltar of a supertanker suspected of
   smuggling two million barrels of Iranian oil is adding to spiraling
   tensions between Washington and Tehran.

   Iranian officials say the seizure this week by British royal Marines,
   of a ship that appeared to be heading for Syria, was at the behest of
   the U.S. The impounding of the supertanker was quickly welcomed by
   White House national security adviser John Bolton.

   "Excellent news: UK has detained the supertanker Grace I laden with
   Iranian oil bound for Syria in violation of EU sanctions," Bolton
   tweeted.

     Excellent news: UK has detained the supertanker Grace I laden with
     Iranian oil bound for Syria in violation of EU sanctions. America &
     our allies will continue to prevent regimes in Tehran & Damascus
     from profiting off this illicit trade.
     -- John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) [1]July 4, 2019

   Western diplomats are braced for Iranian reprisals, most likely in the
   Strait of Hormuz.

   Iran has already been accused by Washington of sabotaging half-a-dozen
   oil tankers in the strait in a policy of brinkmanship aimed at
   underlining to European countries the costs of siding with Washington
   in a confrontation triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision
   last year to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal and reimpose economic
   sanctions.

   Iran has denied it has mounted any mining operations against shipping
   in the Strait of Hormuz.

   A detachment of 30 British Royal Marines working with Gibraltar's
   police intercepted Grace 1 overnight Wednesday as it headed east off
   the British peninsula. Some marines landed on the deck by dropping from
   ropes suspended below a hovering Wildcat helicopter. Others boarded
   from speedboats, pulled up alongside.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton/status/1146877026751647756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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