Iran-bound cargo seized in Greece, official says

AP: The cargo of a ship bound for Iran was seized near Athens because it violated an international embargo, a Greek government official said Friday, and a Greek newspaper reported that the vessel was carrying steel that can be used to make missile components.

The Associated Press

By DEREK GATOPOULOS

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The cargo of a ship bound for Iran was seized near Athens because it violated an international embargo, a Greek government official said Friday, and a Greek newspaper reported that the vessel was carrying steel that can be used to make missile components.

On Monday, Iran launched an Omid satellite, a move that touched off concerns among experts in Europe, the United States and Israel about the potential of links between its satellite program and its work with missiles and nuclear technology.

The ship, the Susanna, was traveling from Slovenia to Iran when it was stopped in December carrying four containers loaded with cargo "banned under international law," and they were removed during a customs inspection at Elefsis, west of Athens, the official said on condition of anonymity because his department was not directly involved in the search.

The official did not identify the cargo or the ship's owner. He also did not say why the seizure — which was reported by Israeli media on Friday — has not been publicly announced by the Greek government.

On Sunday, Greece's Elfetherotypia newspaper said the cargo taken by inspectors was steel that can be used to make missile components, but the government official refused to comment on the report.

Greece's Fraud agency conducted the search and seized the cargo, but its officials were not available for comment Friday.