Tanker suspected of delivering oil to Syria detained, Iran summons UK ambassador

 A supertanker suspected of carrying crude oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions was detained in Gibraltar on Thursday, the territory’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said.
The Grace 1 vessel was halted in the early hours of Thursday by Gibraltar police and customs agencies, aided by a detachment of British Royal Marines.
“We have reason to believe that the ‘Grace 1’ was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas Refinery in Syria,” Picardo said in a statement.
“That refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria.”
The Grace 1 is a Panamanian-flagged tanker, according to the shipping trade publication Lloyd’s List.
“We have detained the vessel and its cargo,” Picardo said.
Spain's caretaker foreign minister Josep Borrell said the tanker was stopped by British authorities after a request from the United States.
The EU and others have imposed sanctions on Assad's government over its continued crackdown against civilians. They currently target 270 people and 70 entities.

Britain welcomed on Thursday the "firm actions" by Gibraltar to detain The Grace 1 on suspicion of carrying crude oil to Syria, saying the move sent a clear message that the violation of EU sanctions was unacceptable.
"We welcome this firm action to enforce EU sanctions against the Syrian regime and commend those Gibraltarian authorities involved in successfully carrying out this morning's operation," Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said.
"This sends a clear message that violation of the sanctions is unacceptable."