US federal prosecutors are arguing to a DC court that four Iranian tankers full of gasoline, en route to Venezuela, should be seized by the United States by way of civil forfeiture. The ships contain 1.1 million barrels of gasoline.
The legal basis for the move is a claim by the US that Iranian businessman Mahmoud Madanipour was in some minor way involved, and as such the whole of the tankers, and gasoline, are valid to seize because he’s accused of ties with the Revolutionary Guards.
The Trump Administration doesn’t want Iran to sell gasoline, doesn’t want Venezuela to buy gasoline, and seems to be ready to jump through legal hoops to stop the one doing business with the other. Previous efforts haven’t been as lucrative as the administration may have hoped, however.
A ship the US previously seized on the same grounds was ultimately let go, after federal marshals tried to auction off the gasoline on it, and no one met the minimum bid.
Piracy is alive and well in the US. Will the ships seizing the Iranian tankers fly the Jolly Roger “Skull and Crossbones ” Flag to show what this once great nation has descended to????
Agree about the piracy. But we were never great.
We were great when we we had the
world automobile franchise.. Before all the bad people began to use us & our successes for their own purposes, bribe our politicians to sell our greatness for their needs.
I was born right after we had leveled every city in North Korea and killed 20% of their population and we’ve been pretty much on a rampage my entire life. If America was ever great, it must have been before I was born.
Exactly how does US law apply in international waters? US has no right to touch any tankers outside its jurisdiction unless there are UN security council sanctions which authorise it.
the u.s. is not subject to international law or any U.N. decree. we do what we want unabated.
Yes as bootin points out. This is America, where the executive asks the judiciary to tell it to do congresses job….. N the buddin type cheer on the Usurping traitors….
Oh, to the shinning light crowd, we are the cops of the righteous in the world. Never mind it’s always the poor & brown who seem to die in our ops. as we “Protect the oil & resources” of others. As in the oil well fields of Syria…!!!!!! It’s’ just robbery & looting, ask those in Yemen. Saudis attack us on 911.. We help them murder their poor neighbors of Yemen in gratitude.. WTF…. Time to see bad behavior in our name as treason when it kills the innocent & rewards those who attack and hate us. Who approves of such policy is guilty and should pay too. Too much Epstein & Maxwell, too little concern about those victims. Bring it on so we can know who to help and who to help to live peacibly.
No point complaining about Trump. You Americans have got an Israeli grandmother running US foreign policy. i.e. Sheldon Adelson’s wife. And you all seem quite OK with that……. Pathetic !!!
I was thinking about storming into the white house and demanding that this end but then I remembered they’d blow me away before I got to within mask wearing distance. So can I keep complaining about Trump?
I don’t think anyone at the WH is aware of masks or distancing. They just assume anyone with a mask is ANTIFA, and respond with helicopters.
I was happy when Trump won over “Confront Putin” Sicco Hillary..!!! But his “Bad Iran” fixation leaves me ready to vote Jill Stein for the third time!!!!!
It was the Saudis who flew the planes into the WTC. & Iran only seems to try to stay free & somewhat prosperous. Just read Israel working to get 38 billion of U.S. tax payers hard earned $$$ in aid. I think there are a lot more places IN AMERICA THAT NEED THE MONEY WAAAY MORE THAN ISRAEL. Like Detroit!
another amerikan paper tiger kabuki show…Iran can retaliate by closing the Hormuz….if the amerikan barbarians challenge, their bases will be demolished—the paper tiger is a kitten
we could declare the straight of hormuz as our 51st state if we wanted to. iran would just cower and hide if we decide to get serious with these clowns.
Maybe we should declare you as our 51 boob and forget Iran. We weren’t born to serve the child killing zionists. We were sent to ferthur the righteous who work hard and live by Christian values.
The United States of ***holes. Somethings never change, e.g., being Israel’s doormat.
“The legal basis for the move is a claim by the US that Iranian businessman Mahmoud Madanipour was in some minor way involved, and as such the whole of the tankers, and gasoline, are valid to seize because he’s accused of ties with the Revolutionary Guards.’
I see declaring the Revolutionary Guards as terrorists is paying off in our sick perverted way.
Just remember this anything the US does, CHINA can also do.
Grabbing four Iranian tankers would be treated as an act of war requiring retaliation against tankers of US allies such as Saudi Arabia. In current oil market conditions, that might please the US oil industry, and hurting the Saudis always pleases the Israelis. However, there would be a longer term cost when the insecure monarchies tumbles to jihadis all across the oil region. Then the issues with Iran would seem tame by comparison.
Bring it on. The sooner the better
With no love for the Saudis, I see a big price for the US, to be paid whichever way this goes. We are linked to an anchor about to be thrown over the side.
Hurting the Saudis doesn’t seem to please Israel these dayz. Actually, our
Israeli benefactors seem to be too tight with our Saudi 911 attackers. And Iran has not EVERY actually attacked us. What they did was react to Us giving sanctuary to the puppet dicktator AKA the Shah that we installed to direct the sweat heart oil theft deal we created when we overthrew the elected governnent and put in our puppet.
You confuse using them with not hurting them. Israel uses the Saudis against Iran. It also takes every opportunity to limit the Saudis, as with weapons from the US to maintain Israeli’s technological edge over the Saudis.
US is the world oil thief on land and in high seas…!