Government efforts to negotiate the release of the sailors
In Greek-owned tankerwhich has previously been embroiled in a conflict between the US and Iran, boarded yesterday armed of Iran seizing the ship while it was sailing east of Oman, bound for the Iranian port of Badar-i-Jask.
On the tanker St Nicholas of the Empire Navigation company, with the flag of the Marshall Islands, which was seized by the US last year for transporting Iranian oil, has a total of 19 crew members, 18 Filipino nationals and one Greek, probationary master, only 19 years old.
“The Navy of his Army Iran announced the arrest of an American tanker in Gulf of Oman following a court order,” state television in Iran reported earlier.
The armed they were reported to be wearing black military-style uniforms and black full-face hoods.
The ship had loaded oil from Basra, Iraq and was destined for the port of Aliaga, Turkey. According to company representatives, communication with the crew members had not been restored until late last night.
Government efforts to negotiate a release
According to Kathimerini, government sources noted that in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs they are making efforts to release the 19 crew members as quickly as possible.
The role of negotiator is to be assumed by a Coast Guard officer who had recently met in the United Arab Emirates with representatives of Iran, as part of negotiations for the release of the Greek or Greek interests of the tankers “Delta Poseidon” and “Prudent Warrior”, which had also been seized. by the Revolutionary Guards.
The St Nikolas had been seized in 2023 by the United States in a sanctions operation and while then bearing the name Suez Rajan.
The US had announced at the time that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was trying to send Iranian oil to China in violation of US sanctions.
The US is demanding the release of the tanker
“The Iranian government must immediately release the tanker and its crew. This illegal seizure of a merchant ship is an act by Iran – or at the behest of Tehran – aimed at disrupting international trade,” a State Department spokesman told reporters. Vedant Patel.
Source: Skai
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