Gibraltar Changed Its Sanctions Laws to Seize Iranian Ship
Laws changed just 36 hours before to enable the seizure Bolton requested
Gibraltar updated its sanctions enforcement regulations 36 hours before Royal Marines impounded an Iranian tanker when it stopped for supplies in the territory, lawyers have said.
The seizure of the Grace 1 earlier this month, which prompted Iran to threaten reciprocal actions, is at the heart of the crisis unfolding the Gulf.
The legal changes, reported by the blog EU Sanctions, suggest both that the operation was meticulously planned and that the authorities feared it would need a clearer legal basis.
Gibraltar incorporated Sanctions Regulations 2019 into local law on July 3, specifically giving its authorities the right to “designate and detain” ships if the chief minister suspects they are being used to breach EU sanctions. Details of the events leading up to the seizure of Grace 1 on July 5 have become central to understanding how Britain became embroiled in a confrontation with Iran despite its formal policy to “de-escalate” tensions in the Gulf.
Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary, has been accused of allowing Britain to be used as a pawn in the Trump administration’s determination to put “maximum pressure” on Iran. Both the Foreign Office and the Gibraltar authorities have denied that they acted at Washington’ request when they seized Grace 1. It was carrying 2.1 million barrels of crude oil, allegedly to the Baniyas oil refinery in Syria, a target of EU sanctions against the Assad regime.
However, the Spanish newspaper El Pais has reported that the United States sent a message to Madrid two days before Grace 1 arrived in Gibraltar’s waters saying that the tanker was on its way. The report makes it more likely that the tip-off to Gibraltar and Britain also came from America, which is keen to stop as much of Iran’s oil exports as possible.
The chief minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, has said the decision to impound Grace 1 was his alone [funniest thing you’ll read all week], but both sides have confirmed that he took the decision after consultation with the Foreign Office.
Source: The Times
What kind of hold does the US have on Gibraltar, a country which would certainly benefit the most from joining Russia and China in the Belt and Road economic group.? Gibraltar does not benefit from being a lacky to the US by any stretch of the imagination nor does Spain for that matter…anyone associated with the US in any sort of agreement should plan on that agreement beinb abandoned when the US finds that it is not useful to them any longer.
Interesting sidelight to this affair.
Readers may enjoy this recently posted discussion on the topic:
https://chuckmanwordsincomments.wordpress.com/2019/07/24/john-chuckman-comment-britain-sending-a-nuclear-sub-to-the-gulf-it-just-doesnt-get-more-foolish-what-has-happened-between-iran-and-britain-explained-clearly-how-easily-it-might-be-solved/
We should not hold our breath for the new UK “boss” Boris Johnson as he had already referred to Iran as ” that bunch of Mullahs.”
But the UK ,the USA & Israel well know that in election time WAR is good for votes.
The Middle East is the Land of the “Mullahs” & the UK & USA should “git out” ASAP.
This ” we don’t want to have a war against Iran” BUT we DO INSIST that Iran allow the Nuclear Might of the US & UK & Israel to be stationed on Iran´s doorstep ready to obliterate Iran as has been threatened for years..
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The tide is changing and it is not in favor of the US…what economic (or other) reason do European countries have to join the US in their hatred of Iran?? I think those countries are now asking themselves the same question…
When one has no morals, no standards, no truth, no honor, and have a Rodent problem, one can just make the rules up as one goes along.