According to an administration official, and a former official, the US is seeing a rise in gas prices. A Greek oil tanker was taken by Iran that contained tens of thousand of gallons worth more than $100 million.
According to officials, Prudent Warrior was on its way from Iraq to Texas when Iran took the tanker Prudent Warrior in international waters of the Persian Gulf. They then led it into Iranian territory waters.
“We have not commented on the location of the ship or oil. A spokesperson for the State Department said that they had no comment on diplomatic engagements. She added that the United States condemned May 27’s seizure by the IRGC of two Greek-flagged ships. “The United States stands with Greece, our NATO ally and key partner, in the face this unjustified seizure.
Ayatollah Ali Khanei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, confirmed that the Iranian military had seized two tanksers, the Prudent Warrior (and the Delta Poseidon) by sending Iranian military forces into the Persian Gulf from helicopters. According to him, Iran took the tankers as a retaliation for Greece’s April assistance in seizing an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea.
Last month, Greek authorities confiscated the Iranian-flagged Pegas with 19 Russian crew members near the coast of Evia, due to European Union sanctions.
According to Reuters, the U.S. confiscated the Iranian oil cargo onboard later.
A Greek court reversed Wednesday’s decision that allowed the U.S. oil to be taken away.
Experts estimate that the oil from each Iranian tanker is worth more than $100 million.
These seizures occur as tensions continue to rise between the U.S. and Iran as hopes of reinvigorating 2015’s nuclear agreement with Iran diminish. While negotiations are in limbo, Tehran continues to enrich its uranium to weapons-grade levels. The U.N. Atomic Watchdog Agency said Thursday that Iran had begun to take down 27 surveillance cameras meant to monitor Iran’s nuclear activities. It called the move a potential “fatal blow” to salvaging the 2015 agreement.
The number of attacks on bases that house U.S. military personnel are increasing in Syria and Iraq. There were more attacks in May than in the previous three months. Seven attacks were reported in May, compared to three in April, three March and one February. These incidents have not resulted in any American deaths.
