A Greek appeal court on Wednesday overturned an earlier court ruling that allowed the confiscation by the United States of part of a cargo of Iranian oil on an Iranian-flagged tanker off the Greek coast, according to Reuters, in a move that could speed up the release of two Greek tankers being held in Iranian waters in retaliation.
Greek authorities in April impounded the Iranian-flagged Lana, formerly Pegas, with 19 Russian crewmembers onboard, near the coast of the southern island of Evia due to European Union sanctions.
The ship was quickly released due to complications regarding its ownership. The US in May confiscated part of the Iranian oil cargo held onboard and transferred it to another ship, following the initial Greek court ruling.
In a separate case, Greek authorities later seized the Lana again, acting on an interim court order over alleged debts to another shipping company.
Iran responded on May 27 by detaining two Greek-flagged suezmaxes in the Persian Gulf. Delta Tankers’ Delta Poseidon and Polembros Shipping’s Prudent Warrior remain in Iranian waters with Greek shipowners and politicians repeatedly urging for their release at many events across Posidonia this week.
