Iran has sold the oil from a tanker released by Gibraltar after weeks in the custody of British royal marines and the vessel’s owner will decide on its next destination, the Iranian government has said.

Separately, Tehran – embroiled in a spiralling confrontation with Washington over US sanctions meant to strangle Iranian oil exports – announced it had deployed a naval destroyer with cruise missiles to help secure Iranian ships.

An Iranian government spokesman did not identify the recipient of the oil carried by the Adrian Darya tanker. After Gibraltar freed the vessel on August 18, the United States said it would take every action it could to prevent it delivering oil to Syria in contravention of US sanctions.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has sold the oil of this ship and now the owner and purchaser of this oil will decide the destination of the cargo,” government spokesman Ali Rabiei said.

Refinitiv Eikon shipping data showed yesterday the tanker was no longer recorded as bound for Turkey, its indicated destination at the weekend. No new destination was given.

The tanker’s location is currently south of mainland Greece, west of Crete.

Source: Read Full Article