RIYADH: Iran will not receive any sanctions relief until the regime stops lying and spreading terror, a top US administration official said.
US National Security Advisor John Bolton said, “We can talk, but #Iran’s not getting any sanctions relief until it stops lying and spreading terror!”
Bolton tweeted a picture showing what appears to be a satellite image of the Iranian ship, the Adrian Darya.
“Anyone who said the Adrian Darya-1 wasn’t headed to #Syria is in denial,” President Donald Trump security advisor wrote on Friday.
“Tehran thinks it’s more important to fund the murderous Assad regime than provide for its own people,” Bolton said.
The Adrian Darya, which carries 2.1 million barrels of Iranian crude worth some $130 million, switched off its AIS beacon just before 1600 GMT Monday, according to the ship-tracking website MarineTraffic.com. The ship was some 45 nautical miles (83 kilometers) off the coast of Lebanon and Syria, heading north at its last report.
The tanker, which was pursued by the US across the Mediterranean Sea, slowed to a near-stop on Sunday off the coast of Syria.
The US has sanctioned the Adrian Darya’s captain and has sought to impound the vessel.
Iranian officials have said the oil onboard the Adrian Darya had been sold to an unnamed buyer. However, anyone buying Iranian crude oil would be subject to US sanctions.
— with AP