Iran Detains Indian Oil Tanker Citing Environmental Concerns

New Delhi, Aug 17, IRNA – Iran has detained Indian oil tanker, MT Desh Shanti, in the Persian Gulf waters, citing environmental concerns, said the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in New Delhi. Terming the media reports on the incident as “distorted”, Iran asserted that detention of the Indian tanker was purely a technical and non-political issue. The Iranian Embassy, in a press release issued here Friday, said, “The detention of the MT Desh Shanti in the Persian Gulf waters, took place only because of the warning issued by the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Center (MEMAC) affiliated to the regional organization for Protection of Maritime Environment (ROPME) in the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea”. “This is purely a technical and non political issue and the officials of the shipping authorities of the two countries are engaged in constructive and positive interaction to resolve it according to the international laws as soon as possible. The diplomatic channels of the two countries are also involved in supporting this interaction,” it noted. MT Desh Shanti, the tanker belonging to the largest ocean liner Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), was detained by Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in Persian Gulf on August 14 and taken to Bandar Abbas Port while carrying crude from Basra in Iraq./end