Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Iran, July 22, 2019 – The European Union, NATO, Poland, Brazil, and Canada have followed suit after the United States, France, and Germany condemning the Iranian regime’s piracy in seizing two UAE and UK ships. The terrorist-designated Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) is behind these recent measures.
The spokesperson for NATO issued a statement condemning the seizure of the oil tankers and described the measures as a clear challenging measure of freedom of international maritime shipping and navigation. NATO called on Iran to immediately release the ships and their crew, adding all NATO members are concerned over Iran’s destabilizing measures.
The EU spokesperson said the recent developments and measures by the Tehran regime increase tension in the region.
The Polish Foreign Ministry issued a statement warning the mullahs’ regime to respect international maritime navigation standards and release the UK ship without further delay.
The Canadian Foreign Ministry wrote the Canadian government condemns Iran’s measures in the Strait of Hormuz and demands respect to international maritime navigation and the release of the two ships and their crews.
The Brazilian President said his government has warned this country’s companies on the scope of U.S. sanctions targeting the Iranian regime and the consequences of violating these sanctions.
The UK has filed an official complaint to the United Nations and summoned Tehran’s chargé d'affaires for an explanation. The letter explains that the ship seized by Iran had the right to transit through an international strait protected by international laws, the letter reads, adding any stoppage of this ship is considered a violation of international law and illegal meddling.
The UK government is on the verge of imposing new sanctions targeting Tehran, including freezing the mullahs’ assets in the UK. These sanctions are to be officially announced by UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, including matters such as freezing financial assets in the UK, according to The Daily Telegraph. There is also the possibility that the UK may call on the UN and EU to impose sanctions on Iran based on the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
CENTCOM has announced its ongoing efforts to establish a multinational naval operation group to protect transit through the Persian Gulf in order to increase surveillance and security of international waters.
In further updates, UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt announced on Monday a Europe-led maritime protection mission to patrol the Strait of Hormuz and focus on providing freedom of navigation. Tehran’s continued malign activities will be met with a large UK military presence in the Gulf, the top British diplomat said.
