Gibraltar court orders Iranian tanker’s release
gibraltar — Gibraltar’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favour of releasing an Iranian supertanker seized on suspicion of shipping oil to Syria in breach of international sanctions, in a blow to the US which had tried to block the vessel’s departure.
The Grace 1 “is no longer subject to detention”, Chief Justice Anthony Dudley said in court.
The decision came after Gibraltar’s government said it had received written assurances from Iran that the Grace 1 would not be headed for countries “subject to European Union sanctions”.
“There are no longer reasonable grounds to suspect that the detention of the Vessel is required,” chief minister Fabian Picardo said in a statement. —
london/gibraltar — Britain said on Thursday Iran must abide by assurances it had given that the Grace 1 tanker would not travel to Syria, and said it would not allow Iran or anyone to bypass European Union sanctions.
“We note the Government of Gibraltar has received assurances from Iran that the Grace 1 will not proceed to Syria. Iran must abide by the assurances they have provided,” a British foreign office spokesman said in a statement.
“We will not stand by and allow Iran — or anyone — to bypass vital EU sanctions on a regime that has deployed chemical weapons against its own people.
“There is no comparison or linkage between Iran’s unacceptable and illegal seizure of, and attacks on, commercial shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the enforcement of EU Syria sanctions by the Government of Gibraltar.”
Gibraltar’s Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favour of releasing an Iranian supertanker seized on suspicion of shipping oil to Syria in breach of international sanctions, in a blow to the US which had tried to block the vessel’s departure.
The Grace 1 “is no longer subject to detention”, Chief Justice Anthony Dudley said in court.
The decision came after Gibraltar’s government said it had received written assurances from Iran that the Grace 1 would not be headed for countries “subject to European Union sanctions”.
“There are no longer reasonable grounds to suspect that the detention of the Vessel is required,” chief minister Fabian Picardo said in a statement.
It was suspected of carrying the crude oil to war-torn Syria in violation of separate EU and US sanctions. Tehran retaliated by seizing a British tanker, the Stena Impero, on July 19 in the strategic Strait of Hormuz — the conduit for much of the world’s crude — for breaking “international maritime rules”. Tehran repeatedly called for the release of Grace 1, insisting it had been in international waters and not headed to Syria.
Iranian authorities believe Britain detained the ship at the behest of US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Following Thursday’s decision, Iran’s foreign minister said a US attempt at “piracy” had failed. —