US issues warrant for Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar
6141 Min Read
The US Justice Department has issued a federal warrant for the seizure of Grace 1, the Iranian oil tanker that was detained in Gibraltar. The US has said the vessel and the oil aboard are subject to forfeiture.
The US government says that the vessel, including the two million barrels of oil aboard and a sum of $995,000, are subject to forfeiture.
The US Justice Department issued the federal warrant on Friday for the seizure of Grace 1, the Iranian oil super tanker. The move comes just a day after a Gibraltar judge had allowed the release of the detained vessel despite US legal attempts to withhold it.
The vessel was detained in Gibraltar by the British Royal Marines on July 4 on suspicion of violating EU sanctions by shipping oil to Syria, an ally of Iran.
The US Justice Department stated that the move is based on violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and bank fraud, money laundering, and terrorism forfeiture statutes.
Washington had attempted to withhold the vessel on the basis that it allegedly had ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which the US has designated a terrorist organization.
The tanker moved its position on Friday, but its anchor was still down off Gibraltar and it remains uncertain if it was ready to set sail anytime soon.
