US slams Tehran as 'untrustworthy' after delivering oil to Syria

CAIRO – 13 September 2019: Washington has recently slammed Iran as “untrustworthy” after a tanker was discovered delivering oil to Syria in contradiction to EU resolutions.

“I think the importance here to our friends around the world in the international community is to note that once again you have been lied to and misled by the Iranian regime,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told reporters.

An Iranian vessel, originally called the Grace 1, was held for six weeks by the British overseas territory of Gibraltar until authorities received promises it was not heading to Syria.

The European Union (EU) imposes an embargo on Syria in response to President Bashar Assad’s crackdown on dissents and rebels.

Britain said Tuesday that Iran breached assurances and that the ship transferred oil to Syria, summoning the Iranian ambassador to protest.

“The Iranian regime broke its word and appears intent on fueling the Assad regime’s brutality against the Syrian people, who continue to face widespread violence, death and destruction,” Ortagus said.

“This fits into the web of lies perpetrated by the Iranian regime for 40 years,” she said.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said Sunday that the Adrian Darya had “reached its destination and the oil has been sold,” without providing further details.