

Iran has the second-largest reserves in the world. However production is limited by ageing infrastructure and sanctions. It is also the second-largest oil consumer, as the cheap cost has meant there has been no incentive for efficient use.


Iran has the second-largest reserves in the world. However production is limited by ageing infrastructure and sanctions. It is also the second-largest oil consumer, as the cheap cost has meant there has been no incentive for efficient use.


Can’t be a privateer if they’re not private.


Ship siezures are not, under international law.


Venezuela wants to sell oil, but is under sanctions. Iran wants to buy oil, but is under sanctions.


The US didn’t “steal” it. It executed a european warrant for siezure at the request of the country that had rightful jurisdiction. Iran was just embarrassed that it was only possible due to the crew’s incompetence.


It has been under US sanctions since 2022 for supplying the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. It was spoofing its position. It was flying a false flag.
As to the legal justification, there are technicalities that could be argued. But that’s incidental to the intention here probably.


Unless it’s by the state it was registered in, it is not legal to do so, except in cases of piracy, slave transport, or when the ship is stateless.


The law holds that states cannot commit piracy. That is solely a crime for private entities.
Ships can only fall under the jurisdiction of the country of registration, the country in whose coastal waters the ship is in, or - in exceptional circumstances of piracy, slavery or statelessness of the ship - anyone.


Usually it wouldn’t be, but there are exceptions for piracy and slaving. There is also an exception for vessels without nationality. Skipper had been fraudulently flying the flag of Guyana, who confirmed no such ship exists on their register. The US could argue it was therefore stateless.


Yes it is. See: Vietnam


Did they though? They mentioned a journalist ran it through a chat bot. They also mention it was verified by a reporter on the ground.
It’s like criticising a weather report because the reporter looked outside to see if it was raining, when they also consulted the simulation forecasting.


Network Rail have emergency response crews.


In reality though they’re responsible, so they’re going to do a proper assessment regardless.


“Accurate substantiated reporting is Fake News.” The mantra of every despot and gangster.


So your problem is that it has too much journalistic integrity? It is a contested event, which extensive investigation has failed to conclusively attribute. So they must fall back on whichever claim they believe to be most credible. It’s not a points scoring exercise.
And yes, shit happens in a war. Ukraine managed to accidentally rocket strike Poland, they are quite capable of accidentally hitting Chornobyl. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Too much body armour to be called rugby.
But now you have Meloni the actual fascist. Great job.
Entirely coincidental that he wants the stadium in Washington to be named aftet him.


All flags are banned except for national flags.
Nah, they mean “I know it sounds unlikely, but I’m still too credulous to actually disbelieve it”. Or they would if they had such an expansive vocabulary. It probably sounds like “Woo Yah” in their heads.