The American administration, which is so fond of criticizing other countries for violation of rights, uses methods of the 16th and 17th centuries for its own interests.
Bloomberg writes about this in a publication dedicated to the seizure of four oil tankers delivering Iranian gasoline to Venezuela.
As noted in the media, the incident brings to mind how the UK began to use the practice of privateering – state-sponsored piracy. Then, 400 years ago, privateers plundered Spanish galleons carrying treasures in the interests of the crown. The most famous “licensed” pirate was Francis Drake.
“Like the British of the time, the United States gave itself the right to confiscate property on the high seas that it believes belongs to organizations it considers to be foreign terrorist structures,” Bloomberg writes.
Although the methods of military aggression are no longer used, the ship owners are forced to transfer cargo to the United States on pain of being on the American sanctions list.
“The concept has changed little in 440 years – we still have one of the most prominent naval powers in the world, which passes laws, allowing itself to take the treasures from enemies,” the article says.
Against this backdrop, Bloomberg draws attention to how vehemently Washington criticized Iranian troops who boarded a small oil tanker before being allowed to continue on its way. Iran’s actions in Washington were called “aggressive” and “reckless.” The agency stressed that the US actions were based on international norms “no more than Iranian ones.”
The US seized about 1.16 million barrels of Iranian gasoline worth $ 61 million. Fuel Washington intends to sell, leaving the proceeds to itself. The tankers themselves are likely to be returned to their owners as soon as the gasoline is drained.