President Trump admits US acted 'like pirates' seizing Iranian oil tankers
Theo TASS
US President Donald Trump acknowledged American forces acted 'like pirates' when seizing two Iranian oil tankers carrying 3.8 million barrels of oil, calling it a profitable business. Iran has accused the US of 'state piracy' and urged the UN Security Council to act, while reserving the right to respond under international law.
US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that American military forces acted 'like pirates' in the seizure of Iranian oil tankers. Speaking before the local Forum Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said: 'We took the ships, we took the cargo. We took the oil. This is a very profitable business. Who would have thought we would do that? We're like pirates.' He stressed: 'We're sort of like pirates, but we don't play games.'
The remarks refer to the US military seizure of two Iranian oil tankers named Majestic and Tifani, carrying a combined total of 3.8 million barrels of oil. Earlier, in a letter to the UN Security Council, Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, accused the US of 'state piracy' after the confiscation of two Iranian commercial vessels and the theft of 3.8 million barrels of oil. Iran called the US action a serious violation of the UN Charter and urged the Security Council to act. Tehran also stated it reserved the right to respond to these actions under international law.
