Iran’s oil tanker the Grace 1 was seized on July 4 by British Marines,
and taken to Gibraltar for detention. Gibraltar announced it was free to
leave as of Thursday, rejecting a US attempt to have it given to them
instead, but it was only on Sunday that the ship finally left Gibraltar.
The tanker, which is now the Adrian Darya 1, slowly sailed off from Gibraltar,
stopping and restarting a few times on the way. Officials indicated
that the tanker would deliver the oil somewhere in the Mediterranean
that was also definitely not Syria.
Though the Gibraltar courts rejected the US bid to seize it, a US
District Court judge has issued a warrant allowing federal marshals to
try to take over the ship, and the oil, as an asset forfeiture.
Iran’s Navy has said they are prepared to send a military escort, if
necessary, to prevent the tanker being seized by the US. It’s not clear
if that has happened at this point, or indeed that the US Marshal
service has any means to practically try to capture the tanker on its
own just because courts said they could try.
Iranian Oil Tanker Leaves Gibraltar, US Still Wants to Seize It
Iran Navy Commander says ready to offer escort to tanker
Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.
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