IRGC Navy Warns of Retaliation: Untouched Iranian Oil Sparks Tensions Off Texas Coast
Authorities Urge Caution
Rachel Brooks
July 21, 2023
Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy, issued a stern warning Thursday to any oil company contemplating unloading Iranian oil from a Greek tanker moored off the Texas coast.
“We hereby declare that we would hold any oil company that sought to unload our crude from the vessel responsible and we also hold America responsible," Tangsiri announced. His words ring ominously with the forewarning, "The era of hit and run is over, and if they hit, they should expect to be struck back."
This pronouncement comes as Iran marks the anniversary of its 2019 seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. This action was a retaliatory response to Britain's earlier confiscation of an Iranian oil tanker off Gibraltar.
Recalling the incident, Tangsiri stated:
"England has a lot of maliciousness and is more malicious than America." He elaborated on the tense standoff that led to the seizure, involving a hovering escort helicopter and an encroaching warship that were both warned to stand down under threat of force.
Earlier this week, a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report revealed a brewing crisis. Over 800,000 barrels of seized Iranian oil, valued at $56 million, remain untouched in US waters. American firms are reportedly too wary of potential Iranian reprisals to purchase the oil.
“Companies with any exposure whatsoever in the Persian Gulf are literally afraid to do it,” an executive involved in the matter disclosed. The sentiment was echoed by other industry insiders, many of whom predicted that the oil would likely never be sold off.
The seized fuel resides aboard the Suez Rajan, an oil tanker impounded by the US in April near southern Africa, later anchored off the Texas coast in May. The Greek owner was charged with sanctions evasion.
Within days of the Suez Rajan's seizure, Iran's Navy detained a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Sea of Oman. Named Advantage Sweet, the vessel was en route to the US carrying Kuwaiti oil for the country's second-largest energy company when it was involved in a maritime accident with an Iranian fishing craft. The collision led to injuries and missing crew members.
Ignoring international regulations, the tanker attempted to flee the scene without offering medical assistance or necessary supplies to the injured seamen. Only after the Iranian fishermen recovered from their initial shock were they able to send a distress call.
These events form a backdrop to recurring US allegations of hijacking oil tankers carrying Iranian oil, purportedly in violation of US sanctions. Washington's pattern of auctioning off Iran's "stolen assets" and claiming to use the proceeds for compensating alleged victims of Iranian actions further fuels the tension.