UANI Calls Upon Greece To Seize, Transfer To U.S. Impounded Vessel Laden With Iranian Oil

(New York, N.Y.) – United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace released the following statement today urging Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his Government to seize the Russian-flagged PEGAS (IMO: 9256860), sanctioned by the United States and presently laden with approximately 700,000 barrels of oil from the Islamic Republic of Iran, and turn the vessel and its cargo over to American authorities for appropriate administration. Reuters reported on Thursday that Greece plans to release PEGAS pursuant to an order from its anti-money laundering authority. 

“We call upon Greece and Prime Minister Mitsotakis to immediately seize the PEGAS laden with Iranian oil. Greece is an EU member and NATO ally. Both the vessel and its oil are sanctioned because of the international rogue regimes of Russia and Iran. We urge Prime Minister Mitsotakis to take these actions immediately.” 

UANI reported that PEGAS loaded crude oil from Iran’s Sirri Island on August 19, 2021. The vessel attempted to transfer this oil to the Turkish port of Marmara in January 2022 but was rejected by the terminal’s operator after being warned by UANI. In 2021, PEGAS transported more than 3 million barrels of Iranian oil to customers globally, with over 2.6 million of those barrels ending up in China. 

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