IRGC Warns Oil Companies About Discharging Seized Oil Cargo

Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the IRGC Navy, stated on Thursday that the Islamic Republic will take retaliatory action against any oil company that discharges Iranian oil from a seized tanker. According to Reuters and a maritime security company, the United States seized a shipment of Iranian oil from a tanker in an April sanctions enforcement operation. Tangsiri said Tehran holds Washington responsible for allowing the discharge of the oil cargo from the tanker. Informed sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, indicated that the U.S. government took control of the oil cargo from the 'Suez Rajan' tanker of the Marshall Islands with a court order obtained earlier. Ship tracking information showed that the last reported position of this tanker was on April 22, near southern Africa. On Monday, the United States announced that in response to the seizure and harassment of commercial shipping vessels by the Islamic Republic in recent months, it is deploying additional F-35 and F-16 fighter jets along with a warship to the Middle East to monitor the region's critical waterways. Also see: U.S. Seizure of Iranian Tanker Cargo Amid Tensions. More ships and aircraft heading to the Persian Gulf; the U.S. is strengthening its military presence. A senior Pentagon official: China, Russia, and Iran remain at the center of CENTCOM's focus. Former U.S. officials: Iraq's gas barter with Iran violates sanctions. U.S. senators call for more sanctions on China due to oil transactions with Iran.