US Defence Secretary<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-blacklists-iranian-oil-tanker-adrian-darya-sanctions-captain-246781"> Mark Esper</a> said on Thursday he currently had no plan on his desk to seize the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, which is at the centre of a dispute between Tehran and Western powers.

The tanker, which is loaded with Iranian crude oil, appears to have turned off its transponder in the Mediterranean west of Syria.

The vessel, formerly named Grace 1, was detained by British Royal Marine commandos off Gibraltar on July 4 as it was suspected to be en route to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

Gibraltar released the Iranian vessel on Aug. 15 after receiving formal written assurances from Tehran that the ship would not discharge its 2.1 million barrels of oil in Syria.

"We do not talk about plans, but currently I have no plan right now sitting on my desk to do such a thing," Esper told reporters in London when asked if there was any plan to seize the ship.

Washington has warned any state against assisting the ship, saying it would consider that support for a terrorist organisation, namely, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

US officials have told Reuters that taking any military action like boarding the vessel was not being seriously considered by the United States as it would likely lead to an escalation that would increase tensions.

Esper said he was in favour of efforts by France and other countries to get Iran to hold talks.

"My personal view, but I'm not the lead for this, it's the State Department, is if the French and others can get the Iranians to come to the table to talk, that would be a good thing," he said.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday left the door open to a possible meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.

The United States has been pressing Iran with sanctions since last year, when Washington abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, often referred to as the Iran nuclear deal.

While European countries, including France, have been trying to push Iran to remain in compliance with the deal, offering proposals such as a $15 billion credit line for Iran to do so, Trump administration officials said on Wednesday they were sceptical of such manoeuvres.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said on Thursday he currently had no plan on his desk to seize the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, which is at the centre of a dispute between Tehran and Western powers.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said on Thursday he currently had no plan on his desk to seize the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, which is at the centre of a dispute between Tehran and Western powers. The tanker, which is loaded with Iranian crude oil, appears to have turned off its transponder in the Mediterranean west of Syria. The vessel, formerly named Grace 1, was detained by British Royal Marine commandos off Gibraltar on July 4 as it was suspected to be en route to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. Gibraltar released the Iranian vessel on Aug. 15 after receiving formal written assurances from Tehran that the ship would not discharge its 2.1 million barrels of oil in Syria. "We do not talk about plans, but currently I have no plan right now sitting on my desk to do such a thing," Esper told reporters in London when asked if there was any plan to seize the ship. Washington has warned any state against assisting the ship, saying it would consider that support for a terrorist organisation, namely, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. US officials have told Reuters that taking any military action like boarding the vessel was not being seriously considered by the United States as it would likely lead to an escalation that would increase tensions. Esper said he was in favour of efforts by France and other countries to get Iran to hold talks. "My personal view, but I'm not the lead for this, it's the State Department, is if the French and others can get the Iranians to come to the table to talk, that would be a good thing," he said. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday left the door open to a possible meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. The United States has been pressing Iran with sanctions since last year, when Washington abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, often referred to as the Iran nuclear deal. While European countries, including France, have been trying to push Iran to remain in compliance with the deal, offering proposals such as a $15 billion credit line for Iran to do so, Trump administration officials said on Wednesday they were sceptical of such manoeuvres.

Pentagon chief says he currently has no plan to seize Iranian tanker Adrian Darya 1

An Iranian tanker at the centre of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran changed course again on Friday and was heading back to Turkey, shipping data showed.

The Adrian Darya, formerly called Grace 1, was now headed for the southeastern Turkish port of Iskenderun, tracking site Marine Traffic showed.

It is the third time the ship has changed destination in the last ten days. Iskenderun is roughly 200 km north of the Baniyas refinery in Syria - the suspected original destination of the tanker.

Carrying two million barrels of oil, the Adrian Darya was released from detention off Gibraltar in mid-August after a five-week standoff over whether it was carrying Iranian oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

The US, which says the tanker is controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards it considers a terrorist group, has warned countries in the region not to assist the vessel.

An Iranian government spokesman was quoted on Monday as saying Iran had sold the oil aboard the tanker and that the vessel's owner, whose identity he did not disclose, would decide its destination.

After its release, it stated that its destination was the Greek port of Kalamata, then Turkey's Mersin. On Thursday, it abruptly changed course, making almost a U-turn away from the Turkish coast.

While west of Cyprus on Friday morning, it did a similar manouevre, doubling back on itself. 
--

An Iranian tanker at the centre of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran changed course again on Friday and was heading back to Turkey, shipping data showed.

An Iranian tanker at the centre of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran changed course again on Friday and was heading back to Turkey, shipping data showed. The Adrian Darya, formerly called Grace 1, was now headed for the southeastern Turkish port of Iskenderun, tracking site Marine Traffic showed. It is the third time the ship has changed destination in the last ten days. Iskenderun is roughly 200 km north of the Baniyas refinery in Syria - the suspected original destination of the tanker. Carrying two million barrels of oil, the Adrian Darya was released from detention off Gibraltar in mid-August after a five-week standoff over whether it was carrying Iranian oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. The US, which says the tanker is controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards it considers a terrorist group, has warned countries in the region not to assist the vessel. An Iranian government spokesman was quoted on Monday as saying Iran had sold the oil aboard the tanker and that the vessel's owner, whose identity he did not disclose, would decide its destination. After its release, it stated that its destination was the Greek port of Kalamata, then Turkey's Mersin. On Thursday, it abruptly changed course, making almost a U-turn away from the Turkish coast. While west of Cyprus on Friday morning, it did a similar manouevre, doubling back on itself. --

Iran tanker switches course again, heads to Turkey: Ship tracking data

Iranian tanker Adrian Darya, at the centre of a dispute between Washington and Tehran, has changed course away from the Turkish coast, Refinitiv ship tracking data showed on Thursday.

The tanker, formerly called Grace 1, was released from detention off Gibraltar in mid-August after a five-week standoff over whether it was carrying Iranian oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

A Turkish official told Reuters earlier on Thursday that the Iranian tanker had not entered Turkish waters. The tracking data showed the ship was currently between the coasts of Turkey and Cyprus, heading west.

On Monday, IRIB news agency quoted an Iranian government spokesman as saying that Iran had sold the oil from the Adrian Darya and the vessel's owner will decide on its next destination.

The spokesman did not identify who had bought the oil. 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.

After its release by Gibraltar the vessel, laden with 2 million barrels of oil, had initially headed to southern Greece, then switched its destination to southern Turkey's Mersin port, before removing any reference to a destination.

Iranian tanker Adrian Darya, at the centre of a dispute between Washington and Tehran, has changed course away from the Turkish coast, Refinitiv ship tracking data showed on Thursday.

Iranian tanker Adrian Darya, at the centre of a dispute between Washington and Tehran, has changed course away from the Turkish coast, Refinitiv ship tracking data showed on Thursday. The tanker, formerly called Grace 1, was released from detention off Gibraltar in mid-August after a five-week standoff over whether it was carrying Iranian oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. A Turkish official told Reuters earlier on Thursday that the Iranian tanker had not entered Turkish waters. The tracking data showed the ship was currently between the coasts of Turkey and Cyprus, heading west. On Monday, IRIB news agency quoted an Iranian government spokesman as saying that Iran had sold the oil from the Adrian Darya and the vessel's owner will decide on its next destination. The spokesman did not identify who had bought the oil. 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. After its release by Gibraltar the vessel, laden with 2 million barrels of oil, had initially headed to southern Greece, then switched its destination to southern Turkey's Mersin port, before removing any reference to a destination.

Iranian tanker changes course away from Turkish coast: Report

The United States will take every action it can to prevent an Iranian tanker sailing in the Mediterranean from delivering oil to Syria in contravention of US sanctions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Tuesday.

The United States will take every action it can to prevent an Iranian tanker sailing in the Mediterranean from delivering oil to Syria in contravention of US sanctions, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Tuesday. Greece said earlier in the day that it had not had a request from the Adrian Darya 1, the vessel at the centre of a dispute between Iran and the United States, to dock at one of its ports, as Washington warned Greece against helping the vessel. The tanker, formerly called Grace 1, left Gibraltar on Sunday. Ship-tracking data on Tuesday showed the vessel was heading toward the Greek port of Kalamata on the southern coast of the Peloponnese and was scheduled to arrive next Monday. "We have made clear that anyone who touches it, anyone who supports it, anyone who allows a ship to dock is at risk of receiving sanctions from the United States," Pompeo told reporters at the United Nations. "If that ship again heads to Syria, we will take every action we can consistent with those sanctions to prevent that." He said that if the tanker's oil was sold, the revenue would be used by elite units of Iran's Revolutionary Guards. "We want to deny them the resources to continue their horrific terror campaign," Pompeo said. The tanker is carrying about 2 million barrels of oil. "The vessel is cruising at low speed and there is still no formal announcement that it will arrive at Kalamata. The Merchant Marine Ministry is monitoring the matter along with Greece's Foreign Ministry," a Greek Shipping Ministry spokesman said. The ship, which is now sailing under an Iranian flag, was released from detention off Gibraltar after a five-week standoff over whether it was carrying Iranian oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions. Soon after the detention order was lifted, a US federal court ordered the seizure of the vessel on different grounds, but that petition was rejected by Gibraltar. Tehran said any US move to seize the vessel again would have "heavy consequences". The United States, in turn, has also conveyed its "strong position" to the Greek government over the tanker. Washington wants the tanker detained on the grounds that it had links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which it has designated a terrorist organisation. The European Union, of which Greece is a member, bans oil sales to Syria and the United States has sanctions on Iranian oil sales.

US will act if Iranian tanker tries to deliver oil to Syria: Pompeo

Greece will not provide assistance in delivering oil to Syria to an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-request-from-iran-tanker-to-dock-in-greece-minister-244412">Iranian tanker</a> now sailing eastward through the Mediterranean, deputy foreign minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said on Wednesday.

"We have sent a clear message that we would not want to facilitate the trafficking of this oil to Syria in any instance," Varvitsiotis told Greece's ANT1 television.

The Adrian Darya 1, which was released after being detained in Gibraltar, is carrying 2 million barrels of crude. It is now sailing east with trackers giving its stated destination as the Greek port of Kalamata, with an expected arrival date of Augusta 26.

Washington wants the tanker detained because it says the vessel has links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which it has designated a terrorist organisation. It has urged Greece to refrain from any assistance, while a Cypriot diplomatic source said a similar message had also been conveyed to Cyprus.

Iran's semi-official ILNA news agency said on Wednesday the Adrian Darya 1 was currently leased to an Iranian shipping line.

Varvitsiotis said Greece did not have the port facilities to accommodate such a large ship, but did not discount the possibility that it could drop anchor in Greek territorial waters:

"This is a VLCC, a very large crude carrier ... There is no Greek port that could accommodate a VLCC."

He said the United States had been in touch with Greece on the matter. Asked what would happen if the vessel entered Greek territorial waters and dropped anchor, he said: "In that case we will see what will happen."

Varvitsiotis said the Iranian government had not been in touch with Greek authorities. He said the cargo could be offloaded at a refinery, but "obviously not" in EU territory.

Greece will not provide assistance in delivering oil to Syria to an Iranian tanker now sailing eastward through the Mediterranean, deputy foreign minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said on Wednesday.

Greece will not provide assistance in delivering oil to Syria to an Iranian tanker now sailing eastward through the Mediterranean, deputy foreign minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said on Wednesday. "We have sent a clear message that we would not want to facilitate the trafficking of this oil to Syria in any instance," Varvitsiotis told Greece's ANT1 television. The Adrian Darya 1, which was released after being detained in Gibraltar, is carrying 2 million barrels of crude. It is now sailing east with trackers giving its stated destination as the Greek port of Kalamata, with an expected arrival date of Augusta 26. Washington wants the tanker detained because it says the vessel has links to Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which it has designated a terrorist organisation. It has urged Greece to refrain from any assistance, while a Cypriot diplomatic source said a similar message had also been conveyed to Cyprus. Iran's semi-official ILNA news agency said on Wednesday the Adrian Darya 1 was currently leased to an Iranian shipping line. Varvitsiotis said Greece did not have the port facilities to accommodate such a large ship, but did not discount the possibility that it could drop anchor in Greek territorial waters: "This is a VLCC, a very large crude carrier ... There is no Greek port that could accommodate a VLCC." He said the United States had been in touch with Greece on the matter. Asked what would happen if the vessel entered Greek territorial waters and dropped anchor, he said: "In that case we will see what will happen." Varvitsiotis said the Iranian government had not been in touch with Greek authorities. He said the cargo could be offloaded at a refinery, but "obviously not" in EU territory.

Won't facilitate Iranian tanker to deliver oil to Syria: Greece

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Pentagon chief says he currently has no plan to seize Iranian tanker Adrian Darya 1

Iran tanker switches course again, heads to Turkey: Ship tracking data

Iranian tanker changes course away from Turkish coast: Report

US will act if Iranian tanker tries to deliver oil to Syria: Pompeo

Won't facilitate Iranian tanker to deliver oil to Syria: Greece