Shahriar Heydari, the deputy head of the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told IRNA on Saturday that the United States' effort to steal Iranian oil shipment in Oman Sea is in violation of maritime regulations and international conventions.
The oil piracy by the US will bring about nothing but more tensions, he said, adding that such provocative acts will harm all regional countries and that the states, which provide the Americans with bases, should be aware that Washington is seeking to fan the flame of tension and discord in the region.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to defend its rights, the lawmaker said, noting that the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) was on time to prevent a tanker carrying Iranian oil shipment from being stolen.
Iran should follow up the issue at international level, he said, adding that the Iranian diplomatic apparatus is expected to do its best to stop repetition of such behaviors; moreover, regional states should take a lesson and be watchful of the US provocations.
The US has shown that despite claiming it is abiding by international regulations, it is the root cause of piracy and the ringleader of pirates, the representative of Ghasr-e-Shirin city at parliament added.
He went on to say that the US was trying to show off its marine power, but the failed attempt was a disgrace for the Americans.
The US military tried to confiscate an Iranian tanker loaded with crude in the Sea of Oman, unloaded the shipment to another tanker and directed it to an unknown destination; but members of the IRGC’s Navy carried out an operation on the deck of the tanker with the stolen cargo, gained control of the vessel and directed it toward Iran’s territorial waters. Then, American forces attempted to chase the tanker using helicopters and warships, but their effort for taking over the vessel was thwarted again by Iranian naval forces.
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