Tehran summons UK ambassador over ‘the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker’
July 5, 2019, 9:41 am

Tehran summons UK ambassador over ‘the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker’

Iran summoned the British ambassador in Tehran for what it called as the "illegal seizure" of an Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar on Thursday, Iranian state TV said, quoting foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

Royal Marines seized ship in Gibraltar suspected of taking Iranian oil to Syria, as a breach of EU sanctions, this comes in a rapid step that may cause an escalating confrontation between Iran and the west.

According to Refinitiv Eikon ship tracking data, the tanker carried Iranian crude oil on April 17. If it is being confirmed that it was trying to deliver the shipment to Syria, it would also be a breach of US sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, said the Gibraltar government had seized the ship according an American request from Britain.

Britain welcomed the "firm action" taken by the Gibraltar government to detain the tanker and said this step has a clear message which indicates that the breach of EU sanctions is unacceptable.

Syrian Regime has been subjected to EU sanctions since May 2011, shortly after starting the bloodshed against the pro-democracy demonstrators, then it turned to a civil war.

Iran, an ally of President Bashar al-Assad, is also subject to US sanctions aimed at stopping all its oil exports. The sanctions were imposed last year after Trump withdrew from a nuclear deal signed by international powers with Iran in 2015.

We have reason to believe that the Grace 1 was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas Refinery in Syria, Gibraltar government stated.

The Gibraltarian PM, Fabian Picardo, said "that refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria."

He added, "with my consent, our port and law enforcement agencies sought the assistance of the Royal Marines in carrying out this operation."

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”