Iran Warns US: Seize Oil Tankers at Your Own Peril
An Iranian security official has issued a stark warning to Washington that any attempt to revive an old mechanism to seize Iranian oil tankers and confiscate their cargoes would trigger swift and serious retaliation against U.S. interests in the Persian Gulf.
The warning comes after reports emerged that the U.S. Department of Justice is working to revive the 'prize courts' mechanism, a relic from centuries past that has fallen into disuse since World War II.
The security official emphasized that if the United States proceeds with this plan, it must be prepared for its interests in shipping, energy, insurance, financing, and related infrastructure in the Persian Gulf to become subject to reciprocal action.
'Companies and institutions involved in the ownership, financing, insurance, or operation of U.S. interests in the region have been identified and are being monitored,' the official stated.