Iranian IRGC detains two Greek tankers in the Persian Gulf

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) soldiers during a military parade in Tehran. Archival photoMOSCOW, May 27Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) navy detained two Greek tankers in the waters of the Persian Gulf, Tasnim reports. «IRGC Navy detained two Greek oil tankers on Friday in the waters of the Persian Gulf due to illegal actions by the Greek authorities,» the message says. Earlier, the Greek authorities said they would transfer Iranian oil to the United States, which was transported by the Lana tanker under the Russian flag. The tanker was detained off the coast of Greece back in mid-April. The reason for the detention was the decision of the Office for Combating Money Laundering as part of the implementation of sanctions imposed by the EU and NATO against ships representing the interests of Russia. He was later released after the owners presented official documents to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) confirming that ownership of the tanker had been transferred to a non-sanctioned company. At the same time, it was originally called Pegas, and then it was renamed Lana. In early May, the media, citing the Greek Ministry of Marine and Island Policy, reported that Athens would transfer Iranian oil from the detained Russian tanker Lana to the United States.The US Special Representative announced the possibility of lifting part of the sanctions against Iran