Iranian authorities have confiscated the American cargo of an oil tanker seized last year after US-led sanctions prevented the entry of medication into the Islamic Republic.
The Iranian judiciary announced the seizure of the American oil cargo on the Marshall Islands-flagged Advantage Sweet vessel on Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
The vessel, chartered by Chevron Corp, was seized in April 2023 while sailing in the Gulf of Oman.
It had picked up oil from Kuwait and was bound for Texas before being seized. The cargo’s value was reported to be worth more than $50 million.
The Iranian judiciary stated that the seizure of the oil was a response to the sanctions imposed by Western countries, particularly the United States, which resulted in the obstruction of the sale of drugs required for epidermolysis bullosa patients.
Iran has been subjected to severe US sanctions since the US withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018.
In a 2021 report, United Nations experts cautioned that “over-compliance” with the sanctions had affected people suffering “from a severe and life-threatening rare skin condition, epidermolysis bullosa, which causes extremely painful wounds”.
The report came following the halt of shipments to Iran by a Swedish bandage company which reportedly offered the most effective treatment for the disease, according to the UN.
The Gulf of Oman has witnessed a series of hijackings and attacks over the years, often involving Iran.
In January, the US military said Iran was “holding five ships and over 90 crew members hostage from vessels seized nearly a year ago”.