Iran has denied that an oil tanker seized by Britain off the coast of Gibraltar last week was travelling to Syria. Iran has not suggested where the vessel was actually headed, and British officials have yet to disclose the evidence they say shows the tanker was bound for Syria. Bashar al-Assad, the dictator who rules over Syria, is a close ally of Tehran and the country has been suffering oil shortages. Iran has accused Britain of seizing the tanker on order from the US, which brought in sanctions against Iran last year after President Trump tore up a nuclear deal. Authorities in the British territory said the tanker can be held for up to 14 days.

Source: Daily Mail July 08, 2019 07:52 UTC