Iran was merely taking again “stolen property” by capturing two Greek tankers final week, the nation’s Supreme Chief Ali Khamenei stated on Saturday.
The ayatollah pointed to the sooner seizure of the Russian-flagged tanker Lana off Greece, when Greek officers stated they might ship 115,000 tons of Iranian oil to the US in accordance with the US-imposed sanctions.
“They steal Iranian oil off the Greek coast, then our courageous males who do not worry dying reply and seized the enemy’s oil tanker,” Khamenei stated in a speech on Saturday.
He acknowledged that Iran took oil from the Greek vessels, but in addition dismissed Athens’ accusations of piracy.
“Who’s the pirate? You stole our oil, we took it again from you. Taking again a stolen property will not be referred to as stealing,” the 83-year-old stated.
What’s the background to ship seizures?
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated in an announcement final week that its forces had seized the Greek-flagged tankers Delta Poseidon and Prudent Warrior. Tehran stated “maritime violations” had been dedicated, with out specifying what they have been.
Athens referred to as in Iran’s ambassador in protest. It stated Iran’s navy used helicopters to land armed males on the vessels.
The incident occured simply days after Greece stated it might ship Iranian oil seized from a Russian tanker within the Mediterranean Sea to Washington.
The Strait of Hormuz is the important thing chokepoint for oil commerce within the Center East
The newest seizures prompted comparisons with the 2019 seizure of British oil tanker Stena Impero.
It marks an escalation of tensions between Iran and the West over the sequence of alleged hijackings and assaults on business vessels within the Strait of Hormuz alongside Iran’s coast. Over one-fifth of the world’s oil commerce passes by way of the Center-Jap naval gateway.
What Khomeini stated about protests in Iran
The ayatollah commented on the worldwide dispute and different challenges dealing with the nation in a televised speech marking the thirty third anniversary of the dying of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
He accused the US and its allies of waging a “psychological conflict” in opposition to Iran and in addition pointed to extended protests aftera constructing collapsed in southwestern Iran.
“Immediately, the enemies’ most vital hope for hanging a blow on the nation is predicated on fashionable protests,” Khamenei stated.
“However the enemies’ calculation is as improper as many earlier ones,” the non secular chief added.
Iranian officers have blamed the constructing’s collapse, which killed 37 individuals, on corrupt native officers and lax security requirements. However protesters declare the tragedy was attributable to authorities negligence.
dj/rt (AFP, Reuters, AP)