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Added on the 06/07/2019 13:13:35 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
Lawyers arrive at Gibraltar Supreme Court for a decision on whether an Iranian oil tanker seized last month near the tiny British territory can be held longer amid speculation that it might soon be released. The decision has been adjourned until 14:00 GMT. IMAGES
In the 4th century BC, the ancient Sanskrit treatise, the Arthashastra, said 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend.' According to Business Insider, Iran and Venezuela may be taking that to heart as their relationship grows ever closer. While the nations are US President Donald Trump's most frequent foreign-policy targets, Iran has been sending oil tankers directly to Venezuela. In September, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would place more sanctions on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Pompeo accused Maduro's government of working with Tehran 'to flout the UN arms embargo.' US officials say intervening to stop Iranian tankers from reaching Venezuela was an option, raising concerns Trump may seek a confrontation before the election.
A supertanker suspected of carrying crude oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions is detained in Gibraltar. The Panamanian-flagged tanker is thought to be transporting crude from Iran. IMAGES
The United States demands that Iran immediately release a ship seized off Oman's coast in avowed retaliation for US actions. "The Iranian government must immediately release the ship and its crew. This unlawful seizure of a commercial vessel is just the latest behavior by Iran or enabled by Iran aimed at disrupting international commerce," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
A very large crude carrier the Nautica, which is part of a coordinated operation to remove oil from the FSO Safer, sits in Yemeni waters. In the coming days, an operation is expected to begin pumping 1.14 million barrels of crude oil to the Nautica from the FSO Safer, a rusting 47-year-old ship that the UN describes as a "ticking time bomb". IMAGES