The US has threatened to impose “sanctions” if the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1 transferred oil to Syria on Tuesday (August 20) after this oil tanker get free and sail to Greece.

Photo: Yahoo News

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has delivered a warning to the Iran’s Adrian Darya 1 on Tuesday (August 20) after it left Gibraltar and was on the way to Kalamata port, Peloponnese in southern Greece “We have made clear that anyone who touches it, anyone who supports it, anyone who allows a ship to dock is at risk of receiving sanctions from the United States”.

He added “If that ship again heads to Syria, we will take every action we can consistent with those sanctions to prevent that”.

The US also had warned Greece and other countries in Mediterranean not to help Adrian Darya 1 tanker as it considered this vessel had a connection to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which was labeled as “terrorist”. Moreover, Greece is also a member of European Union, therefore it has to apply the EU sanctions to Syria.

However, a spokesman of Greece’s Shipping Ministry said “The vessel is cruising at low speed and there is still no formal announcement that it will arrive at Kalamata. The Merchant Marine Ministry is monitoring the matter along with Greece’s Foreign Ministry”.

According to Athens News Agency, Greece confirmed it was on a talk with the US, but giving no further details on its action to the oil tanker.

Iran’s ILNA news agency then announced the tanker was leased to the Revolutionary Guards. It quoted “It is worth noting that the Grace 1 vessel, renamed Adrian Darya after the seizure, is a Korean-made oil tanker owned by Russia which is currently leased to the Revolutionary Guards”.

Iran had responded to the US’s effort to capture its oil tanker which was denied by Gibraltar authority. Iran warned the US would get “heavy consequence” if it blocked the oil tanker from being free.

Reuters ( Van Nguyen )