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Europe
Cyprus Detains Iran Arms Ship
2009-01-30
Posted by:Spereck Phuck9403

#8  Exactly Pappy.

Load it up with Russian arms in Venezuela, ship it via some African line. Hard to trace.
Posted by: DarthVader   2009-01-30 14:27  

#7  Ah, the absurdity. Flag gunrunners under the iranian flag seems to be the next logical step for iran.

'absurdity'? If I was trying to smuggle arms, I sure as hell wouldn't use the flag of my own country. I'd use a 'clean' ship (one that was wasn't used previously for illegitimate cargo and thus not having a 'rep' in shipping or intel circles), owned by a legitimate shipping company (prefereably one that's been in business a while), all papers in order, and registered under a flag of convenience. I also wouldn't be taking a direct route (likely the Iranian arms ship was monitored since it left port in Iran).
Posted by: Pappy   2009-01-30 13:47  

#6  Flag gunrunners under the iranian flag seems to be the next logical step for iran.

Maybe, but the it would likely attract the attention of several pirate craft on it's journey towards the Suez, matched by an equal amount of non-attention from the international yachting regalia anti-pirate patrol in same said area. Of course, they could fly false colors when transiting, but that leads to another serious problem when some other nation decides to board and inspect.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2009-01-30 10:54  

#5  I don't think the Iranians want a gun-running ship flying their own flag. That also raises certain issues under maritime law, and the solutions for those issues are, ah, more direct.
Posted by: Steve White   2009-01-30 09:36  

#4  "Since the ship was flying Cyprus' flag, the Cypriot authorities were the only ones authorized to confiscate its cargo. "

Ah, the absurdity. Flag gunrunners under the iranian flag seems to be the next logical step for iran.
Posted by: Glomose Brown7682   2009-01-30 08:29  

#3  Same ship. Since it has Cyprus registry, Cypriot Customs can order it into a port in Cyprus and confiscate the cargo.

That's the thing about maritime law - its not just for the use of one side.

Posted by: Pappy   2009-01-30 01:37  

#2  I think it's the same one.
Posted by: Steve White   2009-01-30 00:28  

#1  Another one?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-01-30 00:13  

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