Gibraltar’s chief minister: Decision to detain tanker was made independently
Gibraltar took the decision to seize an Iranian tanker last
week solely because the ship was in breach of European Union sanctions and not
on the request of any other country, the British territory’s chief minister
said on Friday.
The Grace 1 was seized by British Royal Marines off the
coast of Gibraltar on suspicion of violating sanctions against Syria.
“The decisions of Her Majesty’s government of Gibraltar were
taken totally independently, based on breaches of existing law and not at all
based on extraneous political considerations,” Fabian Picardo told Gibraltar’s
parliament.
“These important decisions about breaches of our laws were
not decisions taken at the political behest or instruction of any other state
or third party.”
Iran has demanded that Britain release the ship and denies
that it was taking oil to Syria in violation of sanctions. The affair has led
to an increase in tension in the Gulf, with Britain saying on Thursday that it
fended off Iranian ships that tried to block a British tanker.
Tehran blames the United States for arranging to have its
ship seized. Washington has imposed sanctions against Iran with the aim of
halting all Iranian oil exports. European countries do not have sanctions
against Iran, but have had them in place against Iran’s ally Syria since 2011.
Police in Gibraltar said on Thursday they had arrested the
captain and chief officer of the supertanker and seized documents and
electronic devices. Picardo said it was carrying 2.1 million barrels of light
crude oil.
“All relevant decisions in respect of this matter were taken
only as a direct result of the government of Gibraltar having reasonable
grounds to believe the vessel was acting in breach of established EU sanctions
against Syria,” Picardo said.
“We will not allow Gibraltar to be used or knowingly or
unknowingly complicit in the breach of EU or other international sanctions.”
He said the provenance and origin of the cargo had not been
relevant to the actions, which he also said could be challenged in the courts.
