Trinidad and Tobago is adamant that it will not facilitate the passage of a fleet of Iranian oil tankers heading to Venezuela loaded with petrol.
Minister of National Security, Stuart Young, is quoted in Newsday as saying that the twin island republic’s government respects sanctions and plans to fully abide by UN resolutions. Young said talk of the government giving the greenlight for the tankers to stop in Trinidad is a ‘narrative’ being pushed by the UNC opposition party.
“So, I will put it very, very clearly on the record that this Government will be doing absolutely nothing to facilitate in any way the passage of any Iranian flag ships carrying petroleum products to Venezuela. It is quite wrong, especially for those in Parliament, to give this erroneous impression that we do not comply with UN resolutions and sanctions, which we do, and this Government continues to abide by UN resolutions. And we will not fall prey to the UNC ‘call’ for sanctions against TT,” Young is quoted in Newsday as saying.
The Venezuelan military has signaled its intent to escort the five Iranian tankers delivering the much-needed petrol to the country in an effort to prevent any attempt by the US to stop them. The first of the ships is expected to arrive in Venezuelan waters as early as this weekend.
