Recently released Iranian tanker Adrian Darya 1 is 'less than 10 nautical miles' from Syria

Sputnik
Wed, 04 Sep 2019 16:14 UTC

© Reuters/Jon Nazca

Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, previously named Grace 1

The tanker which was earlier detained by Gibraltar authorities over a tip from the US, claiming that the vessel was carrying oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions against Damascus, is now fewer than 10 nautical miles from the shores of Syria, according to intelligence sources, cited by Fox News.

Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, previously known as Grace 1, has gone dark on maritime tracking resources, transmitting its position for the last time almost a day ago - at 15:53 2 September, Marine Traffic reported. The ship's last known position was pinpointed to be in the East Mediterranean, not far from the west coast of Syria and the east coast of Cyprus.

The intelligence sources told the broadcaster that the captain of the vessel, Akhilesh Kumar, has been refusing to cooperate with the planned oil delivery and has asked to be dismissed or replaced.

The ship has been carrying 2.1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil worth around $130 million. On Friday, the Treasury Department hit the tanker and its captain with sanctions, among the latest punishments targeting Iran's energy industry.

The oil tanker was detained by authorities in the UK overseas territory of Gibraltar, on 4 July over a tip from Washington that it was carrying a shipment of crude to Syria in violation of EU sanctions. Tehran later denounced the claims and slammed London over the ship's arrest, resulting in worsening bilateral relations between the two states. Iran accused London of "piracy" and said the ship's detention is a violation of the Iran nuclear deal.

The vessel was let go on 15 August after more than a month-long detention and ventured further into the Mediterranean, changing its name from Grace 1 to Adrian Darya 1. The US unsuccessfully tried to prevent its release by issuing an arrest warrant, which was hastily filed with a sloppy mistake, and still hopes to detain the vessel and its cargo.

Comment: Russian news outlet Vesti:

The captain of the Adrian Darya 1 has asked to be replaced. Perhaps to avoid being the target of new U.S. sanctions?

According to the US Treasury Department, the individuals include a former Iranian oil minister and his son, as well as subsidiaries of an Indian company with an interest in the Adrian Darya tanker, formerly the Grace 1.

The United States has added to the Iran-related sanctions list entities, ships, and individuals allegedly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for reportedly providing Syria with oil worth tens of millions of dollars in breach of US sanctions.

"Treasury's action against this sprawling petroleum network makes it explicitly clear that those purchasing Iranian oil are directly supporting Iran's militants and terrorist arm, the IRGC-Qods Force", Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

10 individuals, 16 entities, and 11 vessels have been added to the sanctions list.

"The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action against a large shipping network that is directed by and financially supports the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and its terrorist proxy Hizballah", the release said. "Over the past year, the IRGC-QF has moved oil worth hundreds of millions of dollars or more through this network for the benefit of the brutal [Syrian President Bashar] Assad regime, Hizballah, and other illicit actors".

In the meantime, the US State Department has offered a $15 million reward for information leading to the disruption of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' financial mechanisms.

"The US Department of State's Rewards for Justice (RFJ) is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to the disruption of the financial mechanisms of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its branches, including the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF). This includes seeking information on the IRGC's illicit oil sales, including via oil tankers like the Adrian Darya", the note said.

The new sanctions come just a day after the US government sanctioned Iran's space agency and two research centres for activities linked to Tehran's ballistic missile programme.

For months, the United States has been stepping up its sanctions on Iran as part of its "maximum pressure" campaign, which aims to force the Islamic Republic to renegotiate the landmark 2015 international nuclear deal. Tehran increased uranium enrichment activities in early August just over a year after the Trump administration exited the accord.