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Fifth Iranian Oil Tanker ‘Clavel’ Sails into Venezuela’s Territorial Waters

Fifth Iranian Oil Tanker ‘Clavel’ Sails into Venezuela’s Territorial Waters
folder_openIran access_time3 years ago
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By Staff, Agencies

The fifth and last tanker in a flotilla of ships carrying Iranian fuel has entered Venezuela’s territorial waters, with the country’s president Nicolas Maduro announcing a plan to visit Tehran for even more cooperation deals between the two nations.

According to Refinitiv Eikon tracking data, Clavel crossed into Venezuelan waters late on Sunday and was navigating near Tortuga Island on Monday.

It is heading to the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela [PDVSA]’s El Palito refining facility in Puerto Cabello, according to the data.

The tanker will be delivering the last cargo of the 1.53 million barrels of gasoline and alkylate that Iran sent to Venezuela to help revive oil refineries in the South American country, which is suffering from a severe fuel shortage caused by US sanctions.

Clavel left Bandar Abbas port on the Gulf on April 28 and traveled the Red Sea and Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, and then into the Atlantic.

Four other Iran-flagged vessels — Fortune, Forest, Petunia and Faxon — have already reached Venezuela under military escort and unloaded their cargo.

Iran’s fuel shipments have drawn the ire of the US, which has imposed draconian sanctions on the two states with the aim of crippling their oil sectors.

Earlier this month, US officials said Washington was considering responses to Iran’s move, prompting Tehran to warn of retaliatory measures if Washington causes any problem for the Venezuela-bound tankers.

The United States then threatened stiff sanctions against foreign governments, shipping firms, seaports, and insurers if they aid the Iranian tankers.

Speaking on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi stressed Tehran resolve to continue fuel shipments to Venezuela if Caracas requests more supplies.

“Iran practices its free trade rights with Venezuela and we are ready to send more ships if Caracas demands more supplies from Iran,” he said.

The shipments took place as part of earlier economic cooperation agreements between Iran and Venezuela.

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