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News ID: 103068
Publish Date : 27 May 2022 - 21:25

Iran Summons Swiss, Greek Envoys Over ‘Piracy’

TEHRAN -- Iran on Friday summoned the envoy of Switzerland, which represents U.S. interests in Tehran, to protest against the U.S. seizure of Iranian oil from a Russian-operated ship near Greece, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry called for the immediate release of the ship and its cargo, official IRNA news agency quoted it as saying.
The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on what it described as a Russian-backed oil smuggling and money laundering network for Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC)’ Quds Force.
“The Islamic Republic expressed its deep concern over the U.S. government’s continued violation of international laws and international maritime conventions,” the foreign ministry said.
Reuters quoted a source at Greece’s shipping ministry as saying on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Justice had “informed Greece that the cargo on the vessel is Iranian oil”.
It was unclear whether the cargo was impounded because it was Iranian oil or due to the sanctions on the tanker over its Russian links, the British news agency said. Iran and Russia face separate U.S. sanctions.
Reuters said the U.S. planned to send the cargo to the United States aboard another vessel.
The Iranian-flagged ship, the Pegas, was among five vessels designated by Washington on Feb. 22 - two days before Russia’s military operation in Ukraine - for sanctions against Promsvyazbank, a bank viewed as critical to Russia’s defense sector.
On Wednesday, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the charge d’affaires of Greece’s embassy in Tehran following the seizure of the cargo of a ship which was “under the banner of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Greek waters and he was informed of the strong objections” of Iran’s government.
The ministry condemned Greece’s “unacceptable” surrender to “illegal” U.S. pressures.
Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization said the tanker had sought refuge along the Greek coast after experiencing technical problems and poor weather, adding that the seizure of its cargo was “a clear example of piracy”.