Tehran (IP) - On the sidelines of the open session of the Majlis on Saturday, 17 August, senior MP Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said the oil-tankers crisis was started by Britain and she must also end it.

Iran Press/ Iran news: A member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, in an exclusive interview with Iran Press on Saturday said there is no contradiction or conflict between the US and Britain, and one can only see cooperation between London and Washington. The British have opposed Iran's nationalized oil industry since day one, and they have cooperated with the Americans.   

The senior MP added: "The British started 'the impounding game' for oil tankers, and they must also end it. They started this oil-tankers crisis and they should end it. Gibraltar's Supreme Court has ruled that there is no reason for further impounding the Iranian oil tanker and that the supertanker is free to sail so it must be freed soon, and it must return to Iranian territorial waters."

The member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission added: "A new game has started. In a new scenario, a US court has issued a warrant for the seizure of the Iranian supertanker (Grace 1)."

"If this turns into a fresh crisis we hold Britain responsible because the British started this game. We see it as a political game. Caught in a diplomatic tussle, the standoff between Tehran and London will continue until the Grace 1 supertanker returns to Iran," he noted.

Falahatpisheh added: "Our conflict with the British will continue until Grace 1 returns. A new chapter may start because the Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to reply in kind -- or reciprocate -- according to the Charter of the United Nations. Iran has the right to reply in kind to the United States or any country which hinders the freedom of navigation of Iranian commercial ships, including oil tankers. Iran has the right to reply in kind." 101/211

 

Read More:

US issues warrant to seize Iran's newly released tanker

Gibraltar releases Iranian oil tanker Grace 1