Greece releases Iranian oil tanker

“The Greek government has eventually ordered the return of the cargo to its owner and lifted the seizure order thanks to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s decisive and prompt actions, the pursuit of the matter by relevant bodies, and the support from the Minister of Roads and Urban Development,” the statement reads.
Late last month, Reuters quoted an unnamed Greek source as saying that the US Department of Justice had confiscated 700,000 barrels of the Iranian oil cargo.
The source stated that the oil cargo had been transferred to another ship hired by Washington and would be sent to the US.
At the time, the PMO termed the US seizure of the Iranian oil consignment as an “act of piracy” that was “in violation of international standards.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also censured the unacceptable surrender of Greece to illicit US pressures and reiterated that the seizure was an example of international piracy.
The seizure of the Iranian oil tanker took place at a time when the US administration claimed that it sought the JCPOA revival. So far, talks for the revival of the 2015 deal have come to a standstill.
Days after the seizure, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) seized two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf over violations.
Tehran and Athens had friendly relations before the unilateral US imposition of sanctions against Iran and countries working with it. The export of Iran’s oil to Greece was halted as a result of the bans.