'What goes around comes around': Social media reacts to Iran's seizure of Greek tankers

The swift move by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) to seize the two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf waters, unanticipated by many, has created a tremendous buzz on social media.

It came days after a tanker carrying Iranian oil was captured by Greece in its territorial waters, under US pressure. The oil cargo was later transferred to the US, condemned by Iran as an “act of piracy”.

The seizure of Prudent Warrior and Delta Poseidon on Friday came barely an hour after Iran’s Nour News, close to the country’s top security body, said “punitive action” will be taken against the European country.

“Iran shows again why it doesn’t pay to be a US slave. This time Greece finds out the hard way,” said a Twitter user, taking a swipe at the Greek government.

Another user, Sara Haj, said the “puppet Greece” forgot that its ships were sailing in Iran when it complied with the US order and seized an Iranian ship.

“The US got the stolen oil, what did you get Greece,” she asked, in a sarcastic tone.

Syed Hani Mosavi, another Twitter user, said three days ago Greece seized an Iran-flagged ship carrying Iranian oil under US orders and today Iran seized two Greece-flagged ships in the Persian Gulf.

“Tit for tat policy in face of the western bullying,” he remarked.

Iran’s IRGC seizes 2 Greek oil tankers in Persian Gulf over violations

Iran’s IRGC captures two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf over violations, after the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker by Greece.

Mardonius Gobryas, a Twitter user, said Greek friends must realize this all started with “their government bending backward to carry out Washington's order to steal Iranian oil”, adding that “Greece could have played smarter.”

Fereshteh Sadeghi, an user from Iran, in a tweet, said “what goes around comes around”, adding what made Iran angry and led to the seizure of Greek ships was the “transfer of Iranian oil to the US”.

Kudzai Mutisi, a lecturer from South Africa, in a tweet said this is what he likes about the Iranians – “they don’t just let things go”.

“Seems like Greece has forgotten the western criminal globalist oligarchy isn’t really their friends,” said a Twitter user Leyla. “These are the same guys who bankrupted their nation a decade ago when Qatar came to their rescue! Iran made the right move”.

Another user said “Greece started piracy” by seizing an Iranian oil tanker first. “What would it expect Iran to do? This is reciprocity. And of course, this is the consequence of being a vassal state of the US,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tasnim News Agency, in a report on Friday, said the seizure of Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf came during a coordinated operation by the fourth and fifth areas of the IRGC Navy.

It further said that a total of 17 Greek ships are currently sailing in the Persian Gulf, and their seizure cannot be ruled out if Greece continues such policies.

US Justice Department confiscates Iranian oil cargo: Report

The US government confiscates an Iranian oil cargo seized near Greece, according to a report.

According to reports, at least 9 Greek nationals on board the vessels are currently in the IRGC custody. Iranian officials have not commented on it yet.

Senior political commentator, Seyed Mohammad Marandi, told Press TV that by seizing the Greek-flagged tankers, Tehran intends to send a message to Washington and its allies, “warning them against harming Iran’s oil trade.”

Earlier on Friday, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the Swiss chargé d’affaires, who represents US interests in Tehran, to protest the seizure of the oil tanker in Greece.

The ministry said it lodged a protest over the “continued violation of international laws and maritime conventions regarding free navigation and trade by the US administration.”

On Wednesday, Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization in a statement described the move as an “act of piracy” and a “violation of international standards.”

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