Thursday, 15 May 2025
America Age
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Font ResizerAa
America AgeAmerica Age
Search
  • Trending
  • World
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Real Estate
    • Money
    • Crypto & NFTs
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion / Beauty
    • Art & Books
    • Culture
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
America Age > Blog > World > Supreme Leader acknowledges Iran took oil from Greek tankers
World

Supreme Leader acknowledges Iran took oil from Greek tankers

Enspirers | Editorial Board
Share
Supreme Leader acknowledges Iran took oil from Greek tankers
SHARE

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei acknowledged Saturday that Iran took the oil from two Greek tankers last month in helicopter-launched raids in the Persian Gulf.

The confiscations were retaliation for Greece’s role in the U.S. seizure of crude oil from an Iranian-flagged tanker the same week in the Mediterranean Sea over violating Washington’s harsh sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

“They steal Iranian oil off the Greek coast, then our brave men who don’t fear death respond and seized the enemy’s oil tanker,” Khamenei said during an 80-minute speech on the anniversary of the death of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. “But they use their media empire and extensive propaganda to accuse Iran of piracy.”

“Who is the pirate? You stole our oil, we took it back from you. Taking back a stolen property is not called stealing,” he added.

The seizures ratcheted up tensions between Iran and the West already simmering over Iran’s tattered 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. Tehran has been enriching more uranium, closer to weapons-grade levels than ever before, causing concern that negotiators won’t find a way back to the accord and raising the risk of a wider war.

Iran’s seizure of the tankers was the latest in a string of hijackings and explosions to roil a region that includes the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all traded oil passes. The incidents began after then-President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear deal, which saw Tehran drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

The U.S. Navy blamed Iran for a series of limpet mine attacks on vessels that damaged tankers in 2019, as well as for a fatal drone attack on an Israeli-linked oil tanker that killed two European crew members in 2021.

Iranian hijackers also stormed and briefly captured a Panama-flagged asphalt tanker off the United Arab Emirates last year and briefly seized and held a Vietnamese tanker in November.

Tehran denies carrying out the attacks but a wider shadow war between Iran and the West has played out in the region’s volatile waters. Tanker seizures have been a part of it since 2019, when Iran seized the British-flagged Stena Impero after the United Kingdom detained an Iranian oil tanker off Gibraltar. Iran released the tanker months later as London also released the Iranian vessel.

Iran last year also seized and held a South Korean-flagged tanker for months amid a dispute over billions of dollars of frozen assets Seoul holds.

Satellite images analyzed by the AP on Wednesday confirmed that one of the two tankers remained off the coast of the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. The Planet Labs PBC images from Tuesday showed the Prudent Warrior between Bandar Abbas and Iran’s Qeshm Island near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all the world’s oil traded passes.

It remained unclear where the second ship, the Delta Poseidon, was.

Talks in Vienna on the nuclear deal have been stalled since April. Since the deal’s collapse, Iran has run advanced centrifuges and has a rapidly growing stockpile of enriched uranium. Nonproliferation experts warn Iran has enriched enough up to 60% purity — a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90% — to make one nuclear weapon if it chooses.

Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though United Nations experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003.

Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters, in his speech Saturday also accused the U.S. of supporting recent protests in Iran sparked by price hikes and the slashing of subsidies by the government. Teachers for weeks also demonstrated in favor of better pay and working conditions.

The value of the Iranian currency, the rial, has been weakening for years but recently tumbled to new lows, reflecting growing anxiety over Iran’s economy,

Khamenei criticized what he called the decades-long U.S. opposition to the nation and said Washington pins its hopes to such protests. Khamenei, 82, said Iran’s enemies try to pit Iranian citizens “against the Islamic system” through psychological warfare, the internet and financial support.

Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article With Jersey Retirement, Gil Hodges Connects the Dodgers and Mets Again With Jersey Retirement, Gil Hodges Connects the Dodgers and Mets Again
Next Article Iran took oil from Greek tankers in Persian Gulf, supreme leader acknowledges Iran took oil from Greek tankers in Persian Gulf, supreme leader acknowledges

Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!

Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
FacebookLike
TwitterFollow
InstagramFollow
LinkedInFollow
MediumFollow
QuoraFollow
- Advertisement -
Ad image

Popular Posts

Kate Moss Testifies That Johnny Depp Did Not Push Her Down Stairs

Earlier in the trial, Ellen Barkin, with whom Mr. Depp was also romantically involved in…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Aged Girl Jay-Walks Throughout Basketball Courtroom Mid-Sport in Hilarious Video

Ballin' Granny Hoops!!!🏀 Mid-Sport Courtroom Stroll Printed March 28, 2025 2:36 PM PDT Typically you…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

Ava DuVernay Named Guest Artistic Director of AFI Fest 2022 – Film News in Brief

Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay will serve as the guest artistic director at this year’s…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

‘Barbarian’: Zach Cregger reveals shocking, stomach-turning scene they cut out of new horror sensation (spoilers!)

Warning: Major Barbarian spoilers ahead!Zach Cregger broke a golden screenwriting rule when working on Barbarian,…

By Enspirers | Editorial Board

You Might Also Like

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder arrested for protesting Gaza blockade at US Senate listening to
World

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder arrested for protesting Gaza blockade at US Senate listening to

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Center East disaster reside: Trump says US ought to flip Gaza into ‘freedom zone’ as greater than 50 killed in Israeli strikes
World

Center East disaster reside: Trump says US ought to flip Gaza into ‘freedom zone’ as greater than 50 killed in Israeli strikes

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
Little one safety employee reveals what Erin Patterson instructed her in wake of deadly mushroom lunch
World

Little one safety employee reveals what Erin Patterson instructed her in wake of deadly mushroom lunch

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
From president to fugitive: within the jungle hideout of Evo Morales
World

From president to fugitive: within the jungle hideout of Evo Morales

By Enspirers | Editorial Board
America Age
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


America Age: Your instant connection to breaking stories and live updates. Stay informed with our real-time coverage across politics, tech, entertainment, and more. Your reliable source for 24/7 news.

Company
  • About Us
  • Newsroom Policies & Standards
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Careers
  • Media & Community Relations
  • WP Creative Group
  • Accessibility Statement
Contact Us
  • Contact Us
  • Contact Customer Care
  • Advertise
  • Licensing & Syndication
  • Request a Correction
  • Contact the Newsroom
  • Send a News Tip
  • Report a Vulnerability
Terms of Use
  • Digital Products Terms of Sale
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Settings
  • Submissions & Discussion Policy
  • RSS Terms of Service
  • Ad Choices
© 2024 America Age. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?