Iranian forces have seized two Greek tankers in the Gulf after Tehran warned it would take “punitive action” against Athens over the United States’ seizure of Iranian oil from a tanker parked off the coast of Greece.

The crew of two Greek tankers seized by its Revolutionary Guards on Friday were not detained, they were healthy and were being cared for on board, Iran’s state maritime agency said Saturday. Iranian forces seized two Greek oil tankers in the Gulf on Friday, shortly after Tehran warned of “punitive action” against Athens over the United States’ seizure of Iranian oil from a tanker parked off the coast of Greece.

“The crew of the two Greek tankers have not yet been arrested, and all crew … are in good health, are protected and are providing necessary services on board, in compliance with international law,” Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization said in a statement issued by state media. .

The two ships were stopped for unspecified “maritime violations,” the agency said.

Greece said on Friday that an Iranian navy helicopter landed on the Greek-flagged Poseidon ship in international waters and took the crew hostage. A similar incident occurred on another Greek-flagged vessel near Iran, it said, without naming the vessel. Athens said both actions violated international law.

It said a similar incident occurred on another Greek-flagged vessel near Iran, but did not name the vessel

Greek authorities seized an Iranian-flagged Pegas near Greece last month due to EU sanctions. The United States then seized Iranian oil cargoes held on board, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Pegas and his Russian crew were later released, but the seizure raised tensions as Iran and world powers sought to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

In addition, “Nour News” affiliated to Iran’s national security agency said: “Iran will not remain passive when its interests are threatened in any way, and testing Iran’s will is a strategic mistake that will cost the United States and its country a heavy price. entourage.”

“Our relationship must not be hampered by short-sighted miscalculations, including highway robbery at the command of a third party,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Syed Khatibzad tweeted. “

In 2019, two weeks after British forces detained an Iranian tanker near Gibraltar, Iran seized a British tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of shipping oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions. Both ships were later released.

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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from the syndicated feed.)

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