webfact Posted January 4, 2021 Share Posted January 4, 2021 South Korean-flagged tanker seized by Iran, Seoul demands release By Parisa Hafezi and Hyonhee Shin A South Korean-flagged tanker vessel which was seized by Iran. is seen in Gulf, Iran January 4, 2021. IRGC / WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS DUBAI/SEOUL (Reuters) -Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps seized a South Korean-flagged tanker in Gulf waters and detained its crew, Iranian media said on Monday, amid tensions between Tehran and Seoul over Iranian funds frozen in South Korean banks due to U.S. sanctions. Seoul confirmed the seizure of a South Korean chemical tanker by Iranian authorities in the waters off Oman, and demanded its immediate release. Several Iranian media outlets, including state TV, said the Guards navy captured the vessel for polluting the Gulf with chemicals. "According to initial reports by local officials, it is purely a technical matter and the ship was taken to shore for polluting the sea," state television quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying. The semi-official Tasnim news agency published pictures showing the Guards' speed boats escorting the tanker HANKUK CHEMI, which it said was carrying 7,200 tonnes of ethanol. Iranian naval vessels have reportedly seized a South Korean-flagged tanker and its crew in the Gulf that Tehran says was polluting the seaway. But the incident comes as Iran demands the release of $7 billion in funds frozen in South Korean banks due to U.S. sanctions. Matthew Larotonda reports 2021-01-04T152651Z_1_LOV000MP58GTX_RTRMADV_STREAM-2000-16X9-MP4_IRAN-TANKER.MP4 It said the vessel's detained crew members included nationals of South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and Myanmar. Iran's state TV said the tanker was being held at Iran's Bandar Abbas port city. The ship had 20 crew members, according to South Korea's foreign ministry. The U.S. State Department called for Iran to release the tanker immediately. "The regime continues to threaten navigational rights and freedoms in the Persian Gulf as part of a clear attempt to extort the international community into relieving the pressure of sanctions," a State Department representative said. The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet is aware of the incident and is monitoring the situation, spokeswoman Rebecca Rebarich said in response to a Reuters query. The incident comes ahead of an expected visit by South Korea's deputy foreign minister to Tehran. Khatibzadeh said the visit would happen in coming days, during which officials would discuss Iran's demand that South Korea release $7 billion in funds frozen in South Korean banks because of U.S. sanctions. NUCLEAR DEAL The United States reimposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 after Washington withdrew from Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers. Under that deal, Iran had agreed to curb its nuclear work in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Iran has retaliated by bypassing the restrictions of the deal step-by-step. In a move that could complicate efforts by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to rejoin the deal, Tehran said on Monday it had resumed 20% uranium enrichment at its underground Fordow nuclear facility. British firm Ambrey said the South Korean-flagged vessel, owned by DM Shipping Co, had departed from the Petroleum Chemical Quay in Jubail, in Saudi Arabia, before the incident. Another maritime security firm, Dryad Global, said on its website the chemical tanker had "likely been detained by Iranian forces" in the Strait of Hormuz while inbound to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. In early 2019, Iran jacked up tensions in the world's busiest oil waterway by seizing British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, two weeks after a British warship had intercepted an Iranian tanker off the coast of Gibraltar. (Reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Dubai and Jonathan Saul in LondonAdditional reporting by Hyonhee Shin in Seoul and Yousef Saba in Dubai, and Arshad Mohammed and Daphne Psaledakis in WashingtonWriting by Ghaida Ghantous and Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Gareth Jones and Matthew Lewis) -- © Copyright Reuters 2021-01-05 - Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you - Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tug Posted January 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2021 Sounds to me like a perfect time for South Korea to exercise their mastery of the cyber world against Iran 3 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Kelsall Posted January 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2021 Iran thinks their buddy Biden is already president 4 1 5 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sujo Posted January 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2021 6 minutes ago, Kelsall said: Iran thinks their buddy Biden is already president But he isnt. So what is trump going to do about it, just walk to the 2nd tee? 4 1 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Patong2021 Posted January 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2021 31 minutes ago, Kelsall said: Iran thinks their buddy Biden is already president Please stop with the nonsensical politicking. President to be Biden is no friend of Iran.Iran move because Trump is finished and USA has no direction now because Trump only cares about his failing coup d'etat. USA has put South Korea in crosshairs of Iran. That's the issue. The USA brings others into its fight with its political opponents. They did this to Canada with Huawei and then ran away leaving Canada to be punished by China. No help for Australia who are fighting Chia aggression. . I am not a supporter of Iran and what it did is wrong, but USA makes problems for many countries and then does not help. 7 2 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ron jeremy Posted January 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2021 Time to deal with Iran once and for all! 5 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Sujo Posted January 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2021 4 minutes ago, Ron jeremy said: Time to deal with Iran once and for all! Yes, try to get them to sign an agreement that they were sticking to and dont just pull out of it. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezzra Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 Just prior to the new year, the USS Nimitz, a massive aircraft carrier that anchors US power in the Middle East, was told to come “directly” home. US Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller thanked the carrier and the 5,000 sailors and Marines of its strike group for their work. Ninety-six hours later, the Nimitz got another order to “halt its routine redeployment” and remain on station in the area of US Central Command... from Ha'aretz newspepers So what Trump has in minds to do about Iran only trump knows... ... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onthedarkside Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 A trolling post has been removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patong2021 Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 (edited) 28 minutes ago, Ron jeremy said: Time to deal with Iran once and for all! Ok. As a reminder, There are 200+ oil tankers now in the Persian Gulf. Please consider what would happen if you get your attack or war. Edited January 5, 2021 by Patong2021 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vandeventer Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 If South Korea attacks Iran they will have plenty of friends joining in on the fight! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dumbastheycome Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 I just hope this escalation is not due to Trump instructing covert agitation as an excuse to deliver his personal coup d'etat for being ousted ! The domino effect could be massive ! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender Rodriguez Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 so pirates, right ...as iran does not have water rights overthere 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sujo Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 33 minutes ago, vandeventer said: If South Korea attacks Iran they will have plenty of friends joining in on the fight! And that would be good how? You like war? 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UncleMhee Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, Patong2021 said: Clarification of quote selection Edited January 5, 2021 by UncleMhee Clarification of quote selection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post UncleMhee Posted January 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2021 (edited) 5 hours ago, Ron jeremy said: Time to deal with Iran once and for all! Perhaps it's time to deal with the real warmongers once and for all, America; through ostracizing it from the rest of the world...... Edited January 5, 2021 by UncleMhee 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 Why does the US get involved in this? The Iranian explanation is very plausible. True or not I don't know. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
condohope Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 What would you do if your money in a bank is halted because a third party demands so? One of the reasons why Americans have a hard time to open an account in foreign countries. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacovl46 Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 8 hours ago, Ron jeremy said: Time to deal with Iran once and for all! You mean the USA! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChouDoufu Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 12 hours ago, webfact said: Seoul confirmed the seizure of a South Korean chemical tanker by Iranian authorities in the waters off Oman, and demanded its immediate release. Several Iranian media outlets, including state TV, said the Guards navy captured the vessel for polluting the Gulf with chemicals. has anyone bothered to confirm the vessel had been leaking chemicals? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Tracy Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 Face it. It's all politics. Saudi hates Iran, others hate each other. The US ends up telling countries that they cannot do business with it unless they comply with its rules. These countries get caught in the middle. Same old story, do it our way, or we'll find ways to make you. Gunboat diplomacy by another name. Perhaps this why the US has been at war or in conflict during 93% of its existence. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liddelljohn Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 Clearly Piracy on the high seas ,, pirates used to be hanged or drowned 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiFelix Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 51 minutes ago, ChouDoufu said: has anyone bothered to confirm the vessel had been leaking chemicals? No, no-one is interested in that, better to just jump to conclusions and blame Iran. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThailandRyan Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 Foolish of Iran to think that this would give them a better bargaining chip in the world. I would not be surprised if the mountain where they have their centrifuges and plutonium enrichment process ongoing does not end up becoming nothing but rubble. Tit for Tat. South Korea has some very strong allies. Is Iran puffing out its chest and hoping that the fatman in North Kore comes to their aid if the South Koreans act decisively? This will be interesting and not a Mexican standoff in my view. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiFelix Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 48 minutes ago, Scott Tracy said: Face it. It's all politics. Saudi hates Iran, others hate each other. The US ends up telling countries that they cannot do business with it unless they comply with its rules. These countries get caught in the middle. Same old story, do it our way, or we'll find ways to make you. Gunboat diplomacy by another name. Perhaps this why the US has been at war or in conflict during 93% of its existence. This whole mess started because the meddling US did not accept the democratically elected leader of Iran. Everything must suit the interests of the US of lies, so the CIA set about its dirty business to overturn the popular leader and replace him with their puppet the corrupt Shah Pahlavi. Naturally, like ANY other country would do, the Iranians eventually stood up to the USA and kicked them and the Shah out. The USA has never forgotten their audacity and punishes them to this day. It is no wonder the Iranians hate the US government. Look back at history and it is clear to see how most of the problems today in the middle east can be traced back to the false promises, back stabbing and exploitation by the US and other western nations. GO HOME YANKEE! 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dumbastheycome Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 1 hour ago, ChouDoufu said: has anyone bothered to confirm the vessel had been leaking chemicals? I think it could be safe to assume the accusation of pollution is a pretext for retaliation for not forwarding payment owed to Iran. South Korea is a major importer of oil so to with hold payment in obeyance to the US is as questionable as Iran's seizure of this vessel. Iran in recent days has given notice of it's resolution to give the middle finger to the various levels of suppression inflicted by the US (Trump's) sanctions and openly announced resumption of refining nuclear material beyond conditions it has continued to mostly adhere to despite the US withdrawal from agreement. Typically the US has manipulated a political standoff issue involving geographical locations outside it's own territory that could escalate to military conflict which it would "support" with "supply". Is it coincidental that "peace agreements" in the middle east between non warring nations actually mostly proclaim resumption of air corridors? Yet none of those so grandly acclaimed have actually eliminated the reality of overt issues involved in the Middle East overall? There is a change coming quickly to the division of "power" in the world and like it or not if it is not achieved diplomatically it will become a devastation ! The choice exists. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dumbastheycome Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 28 minutes ago, ThaiFelix said: This whole mess started because the meddling US did not accept the democratically elected leader of Iran. Everything must suit the interests of the US of lies, so the CIA set about its dirty business to overturn the popular leader and replace him with their puppet the corrupt Shah Pahlavi. Naturally, like ANY other country would do, the Iranians eventually stood up to the USA and kicked them and the Shah out. The USA has never forgotten their audacity and punishes them to this day. It is no wonder the Iranians hate the US government. Look back at history and it is clear to see how most of the problems today in the middle east can be traced back to the false promises, back stabbing and exploitation by the US and other western nations. GO HOME YANKEE! Unfortunately you are not wrong ! History does demonstrate the repetitive cycle of domination that comes and goes. The question is when will humanity develop the intellectual maturity to respect itself and break the cycle? Or is humanity still so incapable ? To date the proclamations of "advances" in human "rights" have demonstrated little other than technologically manipulated usage for advanced exploitation and social inequity proportional to population on an exponential scale! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benmart Posted January 5, 2021 Share Posted January 5, 2021 11 hours ago, Patong2021 said: Please stop with the nonsensical politicking. President to be Biden is no friend of Iran.Iran move because Trump is finished and USA has no direction now because Trump only cares about his failing coup d'etat. USA has put South Korea in crosshairs of Iran. That's the issue. The USA brings others into its fight with its political opponents. They did this to Canada with Huawei and then ran away leaving Canada to be punished by China. No help for Australia who are fighting Chia aggression. . I am not a supporter of Iran and what it did is wrong, but USA makes problems for many countries and then does not help. Suggest you look up the meaning of "coup d'etat". Did you vote to remove President Trump, or are your comments concerning him the usual, toothless rhetoric about this outgoing President? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post impulse Posted January 5, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted January 5, 2021 11 hours ago, Ron jeremy said: Time to deal with Iran once and for all! So, it's okay for South Korea to seize $7 billion in Iranian money, but it's not okay for Iran to seize a S. Korean ship? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron jeremy Posted January 6, 2021 Share Posted January 6, 2021 On 1/5/2021 at 9:25 AM, impulse said: So, it's okay for South Korea to seize $7 billion in Iranian money, but it's not okay for Iran to seize a S. Korean ship? Yes, any other questions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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