US-Iran-Venezuela tanker battle heats up

US officials said over the weekend they have a “high degree of certainty” that Maduro has been paying Iran in gold for the fuel.

SETH J. FRANTZMAN

MAY 16, 2020 09:47
A crew member raises the Iranian flag on Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, previously named Grace 1, as it sits anchored after the Supreme Court of the British territory lifted its detention order, in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain, August 18, 2019.  (photo credit: JON NAZCA/ REUTERS)
A crew member raises the Iranian flag on Iranian oil tanker Adrian Darya 1, previously named Grace 1, as it sits anchored after the Supreme Court of the British territory lifted its detention order, in the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain, August 18, 2019. (photo credit: JON NAZCA/ REUTERS)
Five tankers filled from Iran may be heading to Venezuela, reports indicated over the weekend. TankerTrackers.com, which tracks oil shipments and storage, showed the route of the suspect ships, which allegedly received gasoline at the port of Shahid Rajaee. The US and Iran have now warned each other regarding interfering with the tankers, even as the destination of four of the ships is not clear. Iran’s IRGC is tracking four US warships in the Caribbean and says the US is using a P-8 surveillance aircraft in the area. This sets the stage of a clash at sea.

Content retrieved from: https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/US-Iran-Venezuela-tanker-battle-heats-up-628214.