The ships disregarded maritime regulations, the IRGC web portal said on Friday. More details on the two tankers and crew should be announced soon. Greece protested in the strongest terms and spoke of an act of piracy.
Observers suspect an act of retaliation behind the action. A tanker carrying Iranian oil was recently arrested in Greek waters. In protest against this, chargé d’affaires from the Greek and Swiss embassies were summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Friday. Switzerland also represents US interests in Tehran.
The Greek Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador on Friday. A protest had been filed, said a spokesman. “These actions are practically piracy,” said a statement from the Foreign Ministry in Athens.
Greece demanded the immediate release of the crews. The ships should be allowed to proceed. These actions would have “very negative repercussions” on Greek-Iranian relations, according to the Foreign Ministry.
According to information from Athens, the crew of a helicopter of the Iranian Navy boarded the Greek ship “Delta Poseidon” in international waters around 22 nautical miles off the coast of Iran on Friday. Armed Iranians then arrested the crew. A second Greek ship was also stopped and the crew arrested, the Greek Foreign Ministry said.
Athens has informed all relevant international organizations about the incidents and called on all Greek citizens to avoid traveling to Iran, it said. All Greek ships moving in the Persian Gulf region were also notified.
Source: Nachrichten
