Iran seizes 2 Greek tankers in Persian Gulf as tensions rise

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JON GAMBRELL and NICHOLAS PAPHITIS

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized two Greek oil tankers Friday in helicopter-launched raids in the Persian Gulf, officials said. The action appeared to be retaliation for Athens’ assistance in the U.S. seizure of crude oil from an Iranian-flagged tanker this week in the Mediterranean Sea over violating Washington’s crushing sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

The raid marks the first major incident at sea in months as tensions remain high between Iran and the West over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers. As Tehran enriches more uranium, closer to weapons-grade levels than ever before, worries mount that negotiators won’t find a way back to the accord — raising the risk of a wider war.

The Guard issued a statement announcing the seizures, accusing the tankers of unspecified violations. Nour News, a website close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, warned a short time earlier that Tehran planned to take “punitive action” over Greece assisting the U.S. in seizing oil days earlier from the Iranian-flagged tanker Lana.

Greece’s Foreign Ministry said it made a strong demarche to the Iranian ambassador in Athens over the “violent taking over of two Greek-flagged ships” in the Persian Gulf. “These acts effectively amount to acts of piracy,” a ministry statement said.



The Greek-flagged oil tanker Prudent Warrior, background, is seen as it sails past Istanbul, Turkey, April 19, 2019. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard seized two Greek oil tankers on Friday, May 27, 2022, in helicopter-launched raids in the Persian Gulf, according to officials. The actions were an apparent retaliation for Athens assisting the U.S. in seizing Iranian crude oil in the Mediterranean Sea over violating Washington's crushing sanctions on the Islamic Republic. (Dursun Çam via AP)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-dubai-5bbb7e35405a91ae9ceffbda17b59475

[Alexander Of Assyria]

1. AP turns again to the Iran Card to stir up some fear and deflect righteous anger from The Gun.

[oldsoftie]

2. So they shouldn't report ALL the news? Thats ridiculous. Although Putin would love it.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

3. It's news of interest, sooooo.....why wouldn't they report it?

[quakerboy]

7. AP loves the gun card. It distracts from

the womens rights issues that were starting to actually get traction.

[FarPoint]

8. You nailed that point...

Yes they did...the media manipulation at it's best.

[Hortensis]

4. The Ukraine war has Russia and Iran as two renegade oil-exporter

nations in serious trouble as they now have to compete for buyers not bound by various international sanctions.

One of many incidents in the setting of the bigger issue of these outlier authoritarian nations, including China, allying to realign world power to further their aggressive hegemonic aims against alliances attempting to keep nations in bounds.

This actually is about The Gun, particularly military-grade weaponry.

[Roc2020]

5. Another simmering pot in world affairs

How long before a boil? World affairs are in freefall. Only question is what happens when it meets the ground.

[Mr.Bill]

9. The freefall began on

January 20th, 2017.

[Roc2020]

12. can't argue with that

[FakeNoose]

6. We sanctioned Iran, then we grabbed their tanker last week

Now Iran gets even with us by grabbing TWO Greek tankers?

How is this NOT escalation?

What international shipping law allows them to grab ships belonging to a 3rd party - namely Greece?
Iran is in for a world of hurt, and Pootie is not coming to their rescue.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

11. By that logic Iran could sanction America and start seizing ships. More American white privilege.

[paleotn]

10. Oh, gawd.

Not this shit again.

https://apnews.com/article/navy-persian-gulf-tensions-international-news-iran-united-arab-emirates-ceb6e7a86bf14a9a8d8ecf81c9dcc7ef