Iran denies seizure of Venezuela-bound gasoline tanker by U.S.
Iran's ambassador to Caracas denied that the Iranian gasoline tankers to Venezuela has recently been captured by the United States, Xinhua reported on Friday, citing official IRNA news agency.
The news is "another lie and psychological warfare by the U.S. propaganda machine," the ambassador Hojat Soltani was quoted as saying.
The tankers, in the reports of western media, "are neither Iranian, nor their owners or flags have anything to do with Iran," said Soltani.
Western media on Thursday quoted "U.S. officials" as saying that U.S. President Donald Trump administration has recently seized four tankers which were targeting for transporting Iranian fuel to Venezuela.
Iranian officials have called for promotion of strategic ties between Iran and Venezuela, as the country has sent several shipments of fuel to energy-hungry Venezuela amid U.S. sanctions.