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A last-minute US warrant to seize an Iranian oil tanker preparing to leave Gibraltar after weeks of detention cast doubt over its departure on Saturday, prolonging a diplomatic spat between Tehran, London and Washington.
The US Justice Department alleged the ship was part of a scheme “to unlawfully access the US financial system to support illicit shipments to Syria from Iran by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” which Washington has designated a foreign terrorist organisation.
There was no comment from Britain or Gibraltar, its overseas territory.
Any detention order would ultimately have to come from Gibraltar’s Supreme Court. So far, that has not happened and the ship is still free to sail.
Richard de la Rosa, managing director of Astralship, the vessel’s shipping agent, told AFP the ship was preparing for departure. “Within the next two days, she’ll be going,” he said. (AFP)
The US Justice Department alleged the ship was part of a scheme “to unlawfully access the US financial system to support illicit shipments to Syria from Iran by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” which Washington has designated a foreign terrorist organisation.
There was no comment from Britain or Gibraltar, its overseas territory.
Any detention order would ultimately have to come from Gibraltar’s Supreme Court. So far, that has not happened and the ship is still free to sail.
Richard de la Rosa, managing director of Astralship, the vessel’s shipping agent, told AFP the ship was preparing for departure. “Within the next two days, she’ll be going,” he said. (AFP)
