US blacklists Iranian-operated Adrian Darya 1, sanctions captain

The US Treasury Department on Friday blacklisted the Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, formerly called Grace 1, and sanctioned its captain.

Iran PressAmerica: "The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action today against Adrian Darya 1, an oil tanker transporting 2.1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil ultimately benefiting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF),” the Department said in a statement on Friday.

“Anyone providing support to the Adrian Darya 1 risks being sanctioned,” Reuters cited Treasury Under Secretary Sigal Mandelker as saying.

The ship, which is at the center of a confrontation between Washington and Tehran, was detained by Britain off Gibraltar in July due to British suspicion it was carrying Iranian oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

However, It was released in mid-August after Iran gave assurances its cargo was not headed to Syria.

Gibraltar’s government later announced it was releasing the supertanker despite pressure from the US for the vessel’s continued detainment.

Soon after the announcement, the US Department of Justice unveiled a warrant for the seizure of the ship. Gibraltar, however, knocked back the request.

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Iranian Grace 1 oil tanker departs Gibraltar after territory rejects US bid