Iraq’s oil minister, Hayan Abdel-Ghani, confirmed that Iranian oil tankers seized by U.S. forces in the Gulf were using forged Iraqi shipping documents.
On Sunday, the minister shared details in a state television interview, explaining that Iraq had received inquiries about tankers detained by U.S. naval forces, which appeared to have Iraqi shipping manifests. Upon investigation, it was discovered that these tankers were Iranian and using fake Iraqi documents. The minister added that Iraq had communicated this to the relevant authorities, who confirmed the findings.
This incident comes amid heightened U.S. efforts to curb Iran’s oil exports as part of its “maximum pressure” campaign, aimed at weakening Iran’s economy and slowing its nuclear program. The Trump administration has reinstated this strategy to diminish Iran’s oil revenue, a key financial lifeline for the regime.
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported a significant increase in Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapon-grade levels. Since November, Iran has ramped up production of uranium enriched to 60%, raising concerns about the potential for rapid nuclear weapons development. The IAEA noted that Iran’s stockpile had grown by more than 50% over the last three months, reaching 274.8 kilograms (605.8 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60%, up from 92.5 kilograms (203.9 pounds) in November.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed serious concern in a report, stating that Iran is the only non-nuclear weapon state producing uranium enriched to such high levels, a move that raises alarm for global security.
The situation has added complexity to the relationship between the U.S. and Iran. While former President Donald Trump has expressed a preference for a new nuclear deal, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out negotiations with Washington, especially as the U.S. continues its maximum pressure campaign. Iran began enriching uranium close to bomb-grade levels in 2021, three years after Trump withdrew from the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal.
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