IRAN has said that it expects all of the oil stolen by the United States off the Greek coast in April to be returned as soon as possible after a court overturned a previous ruling allowing its seizure. 

The Iranian-flagged Lana was impounded with 19 Russian crew members on board near the island of Evia after the vessel was accused of breaching European Union sanctions. 

US forces confiscated part of its cargo of oil and transferred it to another ship after a Greek court ruled that it was permissible to do so. 

In response to what Tehran described as “an act of piracy,” Iranian forces then seized two Greek tankers, insisting it was within its right to do so. 

“Intense consultations” are under way to ensure full implementation of the ruling, Iranian ambassador Ahmad Naderi confirmed. 

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi said on Thursday that his country had shown that it would stand up for itself.

“Like bullies, they stole our ship. Iran proved that the era of ‘hit and runs’ is over and we seized two of their ships,” he said in a televised address, adding: “How many times do you want to test the Iranian nation?”