US revealed bullying nature by preventing Iran from hosting shipping event: Diplomat

The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the United States over rejection of Tehran’s offer to host a maritime event in October, stating that the move showed that Washington recognizes no limits in politically abusing the United Nations' technical and specialized agencies.

“The United States once again exposed its bullying and arrogant nature by obstructing the shipping event in Iran,” Nasser Kan’ani said in a statement on Friday.

Iran had proposed to hold a shipping event in Tehran in late October 2023 along with an annual maritime day organized by the IMO, which the IMO's executive Council agreed to in 2015.

However, Tehran's bid to host the event was turned down after the US spearheaded a proposal to revoke the offer and the UN shipping agency's Council voted in favor of it.

“This is while the above-mentioned event had been ratified by the International Maritime Organization’s (executive) Council in London in 2015, and had been also endorsed by the general assembly of the UN-affiliated organization,” he added.

The top Iranian diplomat highlighted that the US move, which was backed by the United Kingdom, proved that Washington sees no limits to the political exploitation of the UN’s technical and expert institutions, even if it results in undermining the international credibility of such organizations.

Kan'ani also denounced the US over ignoring the majority vote of the IMO member states.

IRGC Navy seizes tanker with 900 tons of smuggled fuel, arrests entire crew

Iran

The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the latest US move runs counter to the international principles, and was strongly opposed by many IMO Council members, which voted against Washington’s proposal or abstained from voting and underscored that reneging on the organization's previous decisions would discredit it.

Kan’ani went on to lash out at the US government for resorting to falsification, accusations and lies in order to cover up its illegal and unjustifiable actions.

“As a member of IMO, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always stressed its active and responsible activism in the international maritime sphere and acts in accordance with international commitments,” he concluded.

The US, in a working paper seen by Reuters and submitted to the IMO’s Council which is meeting this week, proposed rescinding the decision.

It alleged in the paper, which was co-sponsored by Britain, that “Iran has seized, or attempted to seize, commercial vessels with no pretext, warning or prior justification.”

It further claimed that Iran had fired on the “Richmond Voyager" using live fire, "threatening the lives of seafarers onboard.”

Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) said in a July 6 statement that the Richmond Voyager had ignored basic international maritime laws by escaping the scene of a collision with an Iranian vessel after an incident that happened in international waters in southern Iran a day earlier.

The statement said five people had been seriously injured in the collision between the Bahamas-flagged tanker and the Iranian ship which was carrying seven crew members when the incident took place. It added that the incident had caused flooding on board the Iranian vessel.

The PMO said Iranian Navy forces then sought to seize the ship based on a court order and upon a request by the owner of the damaged ship.

“The ship rerouted and entered the territorial waters of Oman without heeding warnings and cautions issued by the Iranian Navy,” it said, adding that Iran has informed Omani authorities of the case and will continue efforts to confiscate the ship because of its violation of international maritime laws.

IRGC foiled ‘risky’ US attempts to prevent seizure of foreign tanker smuggling Iran oil: Cmdr.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has seized a foreign oil tanker smuggling approximately one million liters of fuel in the Persian Gulf.

In April, the US confiscated an oil tanker called Suez Rajan, loaded with at least 800,000 barrels of Iranian oil, at sea and the Greek owner was charged with sanctions evasion. The tanker was anchored outside the US port of Houston, according to ship tracking data on Thursday.

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri warned on Thursday that Tehran would retaliate against any oil company involved in unloading the seized Iranian oil cargo.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk