A group of five Iranian tankers was previously spotted sailing through the Mediterranean Sea into the Atlantic Ocean and is believed to be heading towards venezuela. Media reports have suggested that Tehran could be helping Caracas overcome its domestic fuel crisis, which has partially been caused by American sanctions.
Tehran has summoned the Swiss ambassador to the country, representing Washington's interests, to lodge a protest against the alleged plans of the US Navy to intercept its tankers that are on their way towards venezuela with a cargo of fuel. Earlier, the possibility of such a move by Washington was reported by Reuters, but has not been officially confirmed by either the White House or the Pentagon.
In addition to it, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif cautioned the US against intercepting or pursuing Iranian tankers in a letter sent to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Zarif called alleged plans to intercept the Iranian tankers “illegal, dangerous and provocative” acts, which look very much like an act of piracy.
Iranian Fuel Shipment for Venezuela
The first reports of five Iranian tankers, the Fortune, Petunia, Forest, Faxon, and Clavel, crossing the Mediterranean Sea into the Atlantic Ocean surfaced on 15 May, with the online media outlet Al-Masdar News suggesting that they were sailing towards Venezuela, without revealing the source of the information. Maritime monitoring services…
