Blacklisted Iranian Ships Calling at Libyan Ports

(Forbes) Claudia Rosett - Over the past two months, at least three Iranian-linked container ships, all blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury, have called at the Libyan port of Benghazi. The Parmis put in at Benghazi anchorage as recently as August 30. According to data from Lloyd's List Intelligence, at least two other Iranian-linked container ships have called at Benghazi since mid-July: the Tandis and the Armis. All three are blacklisted for their connections to Iran's main state merchant fleet, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. Prior to 2009, all three ships were flagged to Iran, as part of the IRISL fleet, and had clearly Iranian names. Given the costs and risks shouldered by Americans to help free Libya from the tyranny of Moammar Gaddafi, it would reflect better on Libyans were they to honor U.S. sanctions on Iran by turning away its ships. The writer is a journalist-in-residence with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.


2012-09-14 00:00:00

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