Seized by Britain’s Royal Navy July 4, Panamanian-flagged, Iranian owned supertanker Grace 1, was released today from Gibraltar, where it’s been detained the last five weeks. U.S. officials tried, but failed, to argue that U.S. had a right to the ship’s custody because Iran violated U.S. sanctions imposed when 73-year-old President Donald Trump cancelled the Iranian Nuke Deal July 8, 2018. Tensions soared in the Persian Gulf, since Trump slapped Iran with new sanctions, threatening to sanction any country that buys Iranian oil. Trump found out the hard way that there are limits to U.S. jurisdiction when it comes to the interdiction of ships in open seas. Gibraltar authorities simply couldn’t justify retaining the supertanker because the U.S. claimed it had jurisdiction. European Union has a different legal opinion on Iran’s Nuke Deal, reluctant to follow Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign.
Expected to leave Gibraltar, Astraship managing director Richard De La Rosa reviewed all documents for the ship’s departure, clearing Grace 1 to leave Gibraltar on the condition that it does not send its cargo to Syria. “The vessel is ongoing some logistical changes and requirements that have delayed departure,” De La Rosa said. U.S. officials obtained a warrant to seize the supertanker but legal entanglements in Gibraltar courts prevent the U.S. from seizing the vessel. Iran said, in response to the release of Grace 1, it would release the tanker Stena Impero, seized by Iranian Republican Guards in the Persian Gulf July 20 in retaliation of the July 4 seizure of Grace 1. Gibraltar officials ran out the clock on the U.S., suggesting, if nothing else, that the EU and U.S. are not on the same page when it comes to dealing with Iran. British officials have no problem buying Iranian oil.
Carrying 2.1 million barrels of Iranian light crude oil, there are plenty of buyers for the cargo, regardless of whether Syria’s Bashar al-Assad sought to purchase the contents. Grace 1’s crew of Indian and Ukranian seamen were ready to depart Gibraltar at the earliest possible time. With the departure of Grace 1, Britain fully expects to be in possession of Stena Impero in the near future. U.S. authorities tried but failed to seize the supertanker with all its contents, seeking $995,000 in damages. Since Trump cancelled U.S. involvement in the July 15, 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA], Iran has been suspected of exploding Limpet mines on Persian Gulf tankers, eventually seizing the Stena Impero July 20. Gibraltar’s high court let the 24-hour waiting period run out before releasing the vessel, thwarting U.S. efforts to make its best case for seizure in court.
British officials, now under Trump ally Prime Minister Boris Johnson, gave no comments before the Grace 1 left Gibraltar. Whether it goes to Syria or no is anyone’s guess. There are plenty of countries ready to take 2.1 million barrels of Persian light crude oil. Gibraltar’s Chief Administrator Fabian Picardo said Iran assured him in writing that Grace 1’s contents would not go to Syria. Gibraltar officials ran out the clock, giving Grace 1 the green light to leave port. Richard Wilkinson, lawyer for Grace 1’s captain and crew, said he was “not aware of any reason why the ship won’t sail on Sunday, actually getting the go-ahead Saturday afternoon. Wilkinson said Gibraltar authorities had no problem with Grace 1’s contents, only the expected destination of delivering crude oil to Syria. Wilkinson confirmed that the U.S. had not jurisdiction to interdict the Iranian tanker.
Repainting Grace 1 “Adrian Darya 1” before departure from Gibraltar, U.S. authorities had no jurisdiction but, more importantly, no cooperation from No. 10 Downing Street. Prime Minister Boris Johnson could have intervened in Gibraltar’s but chose not to intervene. No longer sailing under Panamanian flag, the Adrian Darya was free to take off from Gibraltar. De La Rosa confirmed that “if the Americans cam forth with some kind of request or specific order, it would have to be looked into by the judges, but I don’t think in materialized, giving the reason why the Grace 1 was renamed and sailed off. Sanam Vakil, a fellow at London-based Chatham House, said U.S. and British policy differed on Iran because the U.K. continued to honor the JCPOA, something Trump rejected June 8, 2018. London continues to adopt the EU position of maintaining the JCPOA.
Trump lost in Gibraltar because the U.K. and EU continue to back the JCPOA, rejecting the White House’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran. Unlike the U.S. that’s energy-independent of Mideast oil, the U.K. and EU are dependent on Mideast oil. “The Americans are trying to provoke Iran,” said Vakil. “If they do manage to seize the ship, it’s all about provoking the Iranian Republic. They’re trying to create a new cycle of tensions,” showing just how at odds the U.S. is with the U.K. and EU. Trump cancelled the Iranian Nuke Deal because Iran continues its proxy war with Saudi Arabia and Israel. Supplying arms-and-cash to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Hamas terrorists in Gaza and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, Iran showed itself as the biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East. U.K. and EU let their need to cheap Iranian oil to run their foreign policy.
