The Iranian tanker arrives off the Syrian coast while Washington threatens not to lift sanctions against Tehran
North-Press Agency
Satellite photographs published by various media outlets showed the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1 was off the Syrian port of Tartous, while the US national security confirmed that the sanctions against Tehran would not be lifted.
According to Associated Press Agency, the tanker appeared in satellite photographs, which were obtained by the Agency on Saturday morning from the American company Maxar Technologies, which is specialized in space technology, near the Syrian port.
US National Security Advisor John Bolton, confirmed that the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1 headed to Syria, pointing out that “Iran’s not getting any sanctions relief until it stops lying and spreading terror!”
Bolton stressed in his tweet: “Anyone who said the Adrian Darya-1 wasn’t headed to Syria is in denial, “pointing out that “we can talk.” In reference to Iran.
Meanwhile, the Middle East Eye website published an exclusive report, conveying information that the Iranian oil tanker unloaded about 55% of its cargo in a Syrian port, which is estimated at 2.1 million barrels of crude oil.
On July 4, British authorities seized the Iranian tanker Adrian Darya 1 on suspicion of transporting Iranian oil to Syria, violating EU sanctions. The ship was released in mid-August, but two days later, a US court issued an arrest warrant for the tanker.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that the United States had “credible information” about the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, and that it was heading for Syria, as the US Treasury announced imposition of sanctions against the tanker and its captain.
Moreover, the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on his Twitter account, at the end of August, that “the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had assured the United Kingdom that an Iranian Revolutionary Guards oil tanker would not be heading to Syria, but it was a big mistake to trust the Iranian Minister.”
Pompeo added, ” we had documented information that Adrian Darya 1 was heading to the port of Tartous in Syria, and we hope that the tanker would change its course.”