UK oil tanker seizure

[KitKat1985]

Surprised that there doesn't seem to be any threads in chat about this yet (if there is and I've started a second in error I apologise).

Anyone else watching the developments with this anxiously, given the current tensions that exist between the UK, USA and Iran. I am hoping this can be resolved quickly, safely and diplomatically; and without need for military escalation from either side.

I’m not talking about The EU as though it’s separate Spain verified that the U.K. acted on US instruction- I’ll find the article

www.nytimes.com/2019/07/04/world/middleeast/oil-tanker-gibraltar-syria-iran.html

The Iranian tanker had already passed untouched through spainish waters before being detained in Gibraltar

Spain’s acting foreign minister, Josep Borrell, told Spanish news media that the oil tanker had been seized following “a request from the United States to the United Kingdom.” He said that Spain had been kept informed about the seizure, but offered no details to support his assertion about an American request.

Hmmm. I'm keeping an open mind here because there seems to be a lot of different things being said depending on the nation.

It's fraught due to the dispute over Gibraltar too and the politics of that in this can't be overlooked.

And then there's brexit. Tensions all round.

I'll be watching with anxious interest to see how things develop.

Of course it’s natural to keep an open mind, I suspect few people really know what’s happening. We are just referring to the ascertain that GB was enforcing EU law by seizing the Iranian tanker, because other EU countries chose not to do the same so clearly we weren’t obliged to.

Tbh I do think the original seizure in Gibraltar looks like an act of aggression which does seem a crazy move in the current climate for GB

Just catching up with this. It's all happened at such bad time with a new prime minister set to take over tomorrow and set up a new cabinet, and Brexit probably happening later this year meaning that already most of our previous EU allies seem disinterested in helping us.

I completely understand and agree with the need to resolve this using diplomatic means, but I'm not convinced Iran wants to 'play nice'. How long do we leave the ship and it's crew detained in Iran if Iran won't engage in diplomatic negotiations?

It's all happened at such bad time

Bad for who ? It may be that it's actually a very good time for Iran, with the UK obsessing about the navel fluff that is the Tory party leadership bunfight. It's certainly a good time to test the UKs standing in the world for the future.

I can't believe that ships going through that region aren't escorted in some kind of convoy system.

It's probably top-secret and I could be locked up for revealing it, but you need ships to operate a convoy - something the Royal Navy hasn't got enough of. As this seizure shows.

Also there were reports that privately, the UK has warned shipping companies that it can't protect them anyway ...

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/11/is-the-us-nudging-britain-into-dangerous-waters-with-iran

The episode has highlighted the vulnerability of British shipping. There are not that many large British oil or gas tankers in the region – 50 or so out of 800 – but they are now targets, and not all of them can be protected.

The Iranians have very good reasons to dislike the UK and US historically, after we colluded to overthrow a democratically elected government, and install a tinpot dictator who was ruthless in crushing resistance. Not that you'll hear that in any reporting.

How long do we leave the ship and it's crew detained in Iran if Iran won't engage in diplomatic negotiations?

More to the point, what do we do if they don't ? The UKs reputation for negotiation is hardly stellar at the moment. We might be stuffed if the Iranians asked to speak to some grown ups.

I don’t OP was expecting a warship escort. More security, although I don’t think it would work for 2 reasons- 1 that I don’t think Private security would disobey the Iranians either and 2 a friend of mine is very a experienced shipping insurance broker and apparently the insurance companies also take the view that this sort of thing (and piracy) is the cost of doing business and model in losses of shop, crews and ransom costs and just pay up.

So in short I don’t think anyone is hugely interested in the loss of a few ships and crew generally.

So in short I don’t think anyone is hugely interested in the loss of a few ships and crew generally.

Well not if it doesn't suit their purposes, obviously ...

More to the point it was reported today that the ship was seized in Omani waters, so a direct middle finger to the GCC states as well. I can see more ships going to, and a beefing up of our facility in Bahrain.

May was daft not to accept the offer from the US of escorts. The NATO allies will have to look at getting a larger version of the Armilla Patrol going.

If Iran was breaking the EU sanctions by sending the oil to Syria, then shame on the other EU member states for not seizing it.

The NATO allies will have to look at getting a larger version of the Armilla Patrol going.

Been a while since I saw an atlas. Has someone moved the North Atlantic ?

NATO were involved in peace keeping during the last gulf conflict. My brother worked for NATO and was stationed in Split I think.

NATO were involved in peace keeping during the last gulf conflict.

Wow - tectonic plates really do get around a but

What's your point DGRossetti?

Must every post have a point ?

Well no but yours above just come across as very patronising and snarky.... so I suppose roakes is checking if there is a point to them