Greek Court Overturns Ruling on Seizure of Iranian Ship

On Wednesday, a Greek court overturned an earlier court ruling allowing for the confiscation of part of an Iranian ship’s cargo by the United States. The ship in question is an Iranian-flagged tanker off the Greek coast.

The incident had led to an angry response by Iran with Iranian forces seizing two Greek tankers in the Gulf last month after Tehran warned it would take “punitive action” against Athens.

The Iranian embassy in Greece had announced earlier that “Following intensive follow-ups, the Greek Court of Appeals will revoke the ruling of the initial court to confiscate oil belonging to Iran, and the entire oil shipment will be returned.”

Ship operating under the Iranian flag seized by Greek authorities

On April 19th, the Greek Coast Guard seized the Russian tanker Pegasus operating under the Iranian flag off the island of Evia.

The Greek government announced that it would deliver 115,000 tons of Iranian oil on the Lana tanker to the United States, but Tehran called the move an act of piracy by Athens.

Iranian Ambassador to Greece Ahmad Naderi, in continuation of intensive diplomatic and legal activities over the past few weeks to prevent US piracy off the coast of Greece, visited the port of Karistos and met with the captain of the ship to review the latest developments, according to a report in the Iranian News Agency MNA.

Following the seizure of the Iranian ship in Greek waters, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Greek Charge d’affaires to emphatically communicate Iran’s disapproval to Greek officials.

The Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) also issued a statement urging the Greek government to live up to its international obligations in this regard.