Iran releases two Greek oil tankers seized for more than six months

The “Prudent-Warrior” and the “Delta-Poseidon” were retained by Tehran in retaliation for the seizure by Athens of an Iranian tanker accused of violating the sanctions against Russia.

Le Monde with AFP

It had been more than six months since they were waiting to leave the port. Two oil tankers defeating the Greek pavilion and seized by the Iranian revolution guards were released and left Iran, the Greek merchant naval ministry announced on Wednesday, November 16.

“After several months negotiations with Iran, the prudent-Warrior and Delta-Poseidon oilmen, seized since May 27, have left” this country, according to a statement. According to the live follow -up site of ships Marine Traffic , the two oil tankers were on the southeast on Wednesday afternoon, off the island of Larak.

the “Delta-Poseidon” ships (top right, in red) and “Prudent-Warrior” (on the far right, in red), off the island of Larak, on November 16, according to the Marine Traffic site. Screening from the Marine Traffic site

Most of the fifty sailors of the two crews had left the ships and had been replaced a few weeks ago. But the company that manages prudent-warrior, polembros shipping, said on Monday that seven of the first crew members of the oil tanker seized in May were still on board before the announcement of the agreement. “We were innocent victims taken in the middle of political clashes,” said the company.

“International flight”

The quarrel began in April, after the seizure by Greece near Athens of an oil tanker beating Russian flag and carrying Iranian crude. Greece initially declared that it applied the European sanctions imposed in Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine in February, before affirming that the seizure had taken place at the request of the American judicial authorities.

Tehran strongly protested against the seizure of her brut, calling her “international flight”. When Athens announced that it would transfer oil to Washington to the “American justice” demand, Iranian helicopters landed commandos on the two Greek oils, which were taken to the port of Bandar Abbas. According to the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during this operation, the Delta-Poseidon was sailing in international waters. Athens then denounced this act “assimilated to piracy”.