Azerbaijan, Baku, Aug. 15 / Trend, N. Umid, S. Isayev
Iran has revealed the reasons for it detaining an Indian crude oil tanker named Desh Shanti, which was on its way to India from Iraq, Fars reported.
The ship, which is owned by the Shipping Corporation of India, has been reported by the Marine Emergency Mutual Aid Centre (MEMAC).
Head of Sea Pollution department of Iranian Environment protection organization, Nima Pourang saud that the tanker discharged its oily ballast water 30 miles away from Lavan island in Persian Gulf, which caused a 10-mile length oil stain on the sea."
"Right now, the experts of Iranian ports and maritime organization are observing the tanker," he said, adding that all ships that pass through Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, must report possible pollutions to MEMAC.
It should be noted that earlier The Times of India reported the ship being on its way to the Bandar Abbas port, guided by the IRGC, while Fars reported the ship being taken to the Khor Musa port in Iran's Khuzestan province.
Sources said Iran claimed to have detained the ship because of environmental concerns. Tehran authorities conveyed to India that the ship was polluting Iranian waters.
India has cut crude imports from Iran, a fallout of sanctions imposed by the US and the EU. The cut, in fact, helped India - along with China and South Korea - win a waiver from the US allowing it to continue to import crude from Iran.
In 2012, India is estimated to have imported crude from Iraq worth more than $15 billion. IOC is the largest importer of crude oil from Iraq.
In October 2010, Iraq replaced Iran as the country with the third largest proven reserves of 143.1 billion barrels of oil.
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