Panama Admits Tanker Was Smuggling Iranian Oil
PANAMA CITY (Dispatches) -- Panama's maritime authority has confirmed that a tanker operating under the country's flag and seized by Iran in the Persian Gulf last week for smuggling fuel was indeed in violation of international laws.
The Panamanian Maritime Administration (AMP) censured the use of ships chartered by Panama for illegal acts, days after Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) detained the oil tanker MT Riah when it was smuggling one million liters of Iranian fuel in the northern part of the Strait of Hormuz.
"We categorically condemn the use of vessels with a Panamanian flag for illicit acts that threaten the safety of human life,” the AMP underscored in a statement.
"Those who clearly violate the laws, conventions and international agreements will be sanctioned and will run the risk that the ship is canceled from the Registry,” the statement said.
Panamanian Ship Registry on Friday officially started withdrawing the registration of MT Riah after an investigation determined the tanker had "deliberately violated international regulations," the AMP said.
According to specialized international sites, the vessel changed its name four times between 2009 and 2019. Its Dubai-based owner Prime Tankers LLC says it has sold the vessel to Mouj al-Bahar, another Emirati company.
On July 19, the IRGC Navy captured British oil tanker Stena Impero for violating international maritime laws when crossing the high-traffic Strait of Hormuz.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Monday Iran's arguments for its seizure of the UK-flagged oil tanker were more convincing than those of London.
"Iran’s arguments are much more right than those of Gibraltar and London who are indulging in piracy," Ryabkov said.
Saudi Arabia, however, called Iran’s measure to seize Stena Impero "completely unacceptable".
Iranian officials say the vessel had switched off its GPS locator, in contravention of international regulations, and was sailing into the strategic waterway in a wrong traffic pattern.
The taker was transferred to the port of Iran’s southern city of Bandar Abbas for maritime casualty investigation.
British Prime Minister Theresa May was to hold a meeting of the country’s emergencies committee later on Monday to discuss the issue.
Iran’s detention followed Britain’s seizure of an Iranian tanker on suspicion of carrying oil to Syria which Tehran has rejected.
The Grace 1 supertanker, carrying 2.1 million barrels of oil, was seized on July 4 as it transited through international waters off Gibraltar, which is located on Spain's southern tip.
The seizure reportedly took place at the request of the United States, which is on driving Iranian oil exports to "zero” as part of its sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The Panamanian Maritime Administration (AMP) censured the use of ships chartered by Panama for illegal acts, days after Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) detained the oil tanker MT Riah when it was smuggling one million liters of Iranian fuel in the northern part of the Strait of Hormuz.
"We categorically condemn the use of vessels with a Panamanian flag for illicit acts that threaten the safety of human life,” the AMP underscored in a statement.
"Those who clearly violate the laws, conventions and international agreements will be sanctioned and will run the risk that the ship is canceled from the Registry,” the statement said.
Panamanian Ship Registry on Friday officially started withdrawing the registration of MT Riah after an investigation determined the tanker had "deliberately violated international regulations," the AMP said.
According to specialized international sites, the vessel changed its name four times between 2009 and 2019. Its Dubai-based owner Prime Tankers LLC says it has sold the vessel to Mouj al-Bahar, another Emirati company.
On July 19, the IRGC Navy captured British oil tanker Stena Impero for violating international maritime laws when crossing the high-traffic Strait of Hormuz.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Monday Iran's arguments for its seizure of the UK-flagged oil tanker were more convincing than those of London.
"Iran’s arguments are much more right than those of Gibraltar and London who are indulging in piracy," Ryabkov said.
Saudi Arabia, however, called Iran’s measure to seize Stena Impero "completely unacceptable".
Iranian officials say the vessel had switched off its GPS locator, in contravention of international regulations, and was sailing into the strategic waterway in a wrong traffic pattern.
The taker was transferred to the port of Iran’s southern city of Bandar Abbas for maritime casualty investigation.
British Prime Minister Theresa May was to hold a meeting of the country’s emergencies committee later on Monday to discuss the issue.
Iran’s detention followed Britain’s seizure of an Iranian tanker on suspicion of carrying oil to Syria which Tehran has rejected.
The Grace 1 supertanker, carrying 2.1 million barrels of oil, was seized on July 4 as it transited through international waters off Gibraltar, which is located on Spain's southern tip.
The seizure reportedly took place at the request of the United States, which is on driving Iranian oil exports to "zero” as part of its sanctions against the Islamic Republic.