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- The US seized Iranian oil from a Russian-operated ship near Greece
Iran on Friday summoned the envoy of Switzerland, which represents US interests in Tehran, to protest against the US seizure of Iranian oil from a Russian-operated ship near Greece, the foreign ministry said in a statement quoted by Iranian media.
The ministry called for the immediate release of the ship and its cargo, the IRNA state news agency quoted it as saying.
The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on what it described as a Russian-backed oil smuggling and money laundering network for Iran鈥檚 Revolutionary Guards鈥� Quds Force.
A spokesperson for the US Department of Justice declined to comment on the oil seizure.
鈥淭he Islamic Republic expressed its deep concern over the US government鈥檚 continued violation of international laws and international maritime conventions,鈥� IRNA and other media quoted the foreign ministry as saying.
A source at Greece鈥檚 shipping ministry told Reuters on Thursday that the US Department of Justice had 鈥渋nformed Greece that the cargo on the vessel is Iranian oil.鈥�
It was unclear whether the cargo was impounded because it was Iranian oil or due to the sanctions on the tanker over its Russian links. Iran and Russia face separate US sanctions.
Three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday that the US plans to send the cargo to the United States aboard another vessel.
The Iranian-flagged ship, the Pegas, was among five vessels designated by Washington on Feb. 22 鈥� two days before Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine 鈥� for sanctions against Promsvyazbank, a bank viewed as critical to Russia鈥檚 defense sector.
IRNA reported on Wednesday that its foreign ministry summoned the charge d鈥檃ffaires of Greece鈥檚 embassy in Tehran following the seizure of the cargo of a ship which was 鈥渦nder the banner of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Greek waters and he was informed of the strong objections鈥� of Iran鈥檚 government.
IRNA quoted Iran鈥檚 Ports and Maritime Organization as saying the tanker had sought refuge along the Greek coast after experiencing technical problems and poor weather, adding that the seizure of its cargo was 鈥渁 clear example of piracy.鈥�