Posted on Aug 18, 2023
Lawmakers Urge Biden To End Delay in Offloading Seized Iranian Oil
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U.S. lawmakers from both political parties have urged President Joe Biden and members of his administration to resolve a months-long delay in the transfer of a cargo of oil from a seized Iranian tanker off Texas.
The Suez Rajan has been stuck near Galveston about 50 miles from Houston since May 30, as shipping companies fear any vessel unloading it would lead other oil buyers to shun their ships on future voyages. The United States seized the tanker in a sanctions enforcement operation.
The delay in discharging the cargo is also partly out of fear of repercussions from Iran. A senior commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' navy said last month Iran would retaliate against any oil company unloading Iranian oil from a seized tanker.
Senators Joni Ernst, a Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, and other lawmakers in the Senate and U.S. House said in the letter to Biden and senior administration officials that enforcement of petroleum sanctions will become irrelevant if American citizens and companies involved constantly live in fear of Iranian retaliation.
The Suez Rajan has been stuck near Galveston about 50 miles from Houston since May 30, as shipping companies fear any vessel unloading it would lead other oil buyers to shun their ships on future voyages. The United States seized the tanker in a sanctions enforcement operation.
The delay in discharging the cargo is also partly out of fear of repercussions from Iran. A senior commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards' navy said last month Iran would retaliate against any oil company unloading Iranian oil from a seized tanker.
Senators Joni Ernst, a Republican, and Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, and other lawmakers in the Senate and U.S. House said in the letter to Biden and senior administration officials that enforcement of petroleum sanctions will become irrelevant if American citizens and companies involved constantly live in fear of Iranian retaliation.
Lawmakers Urge Biden To End Delay in Offloading Seized Iranian Oil
Posted from freebeacon.com
United States Senate
Joe Biden
Oil
Iran
Edited 9 mo ago
Posted 9 mo ago
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Article Quote: "The saga of the tanker is occurring as Washington and Tehran seek a deal to free five detained U.S. citizens in exchange for releasing $6 billion in Iranian funds frozen in South Korea."
No good can come from this. The last time President Obama gave pallets of cash totaling $1.7B didn't do any good.
No good can come from this. The last time President Obama gave pallets of cash totaling $1.7B didn't do any good.
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Walk softly and carry a big stick. Unload the tanker, tell the Iranians that we will not be intimidated and anything that transpires depends on their actions, monitor all activity in the shipping channels where the Iranian Navy routinely patrols, at the first sign of Iranian aggression sink every Iranian Navy ship in a 50 mile radius.
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Imagine, if you will, Iran has placed sanctions and embargoes on American oil duebto our VAST nuclear arsenal and unwillingness to disarm. Imagine, if you will that America has a shipment of oil headed to Turkey, and Iran siezes the tanker in international waters, because the US is in violation of Iranian sanctions.
What, exactly, do you think the American people would demand/expect the US (i.e. Biden) to do? What do you think the business community would demand/expect? Congress?
I am in no way saying America should bow to Iranian demands or desires. But we seized this ship in international waters. By rights, Iran has every right to retaliate. They don't dare. But any bluster from us about "how dare they" is hypocritical, at best.
What, exactly, do you think the American people would demand/expect the US (i.e. Biden) to do? What do you think the business community would demand/expect? Congress?
I am in no way saying America should bow to Iranian demands or desires. But we seized this ship in international waters. By rights, Iran has every right to retaliate. They don't dare. But any bluster from us about "how dare they" is hypocritical, at best.
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