The seized vessel was staffed by 14 foreign crew members from two Asian countries.
Iran seized the St Nikolas, loaded with Iraqi crude destined for Turkey, in retaliation for the confiscation last year of the same vessel and its Iranian oil cargo by the US, Iranian state media said
Iran’s IRGC has threatened to strike back against “those involved in offloading the cargo."
Iranian oil seized from a tanker in April has been sitting idle for weeks in the Gulf of Mexico.
The US Navy had monitored the situation and decided not to make any further response, US 5th Fleet spokesperson Commander Tim Hawkins said.
Since 2019, there has been a series of attacks on shipping in strategic Gulf waters at times of tension between the United States and Iran.
Not only were the vessels not supposed to be near an EU port, but Irish officials were suspicious of sabotage attempts on undersea cables.
Tit-for-tat seizures are on the rise as Tehran and Washington clash in the Middle East.
World leaders rejoiced as Germany announced crucial artillery aid for Ukraine.
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