Sierra Leone removes suspected Iranian ships from registry

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone (AP) — Sierra Leone removed the registration of 10 ships suspected to be Iranian.

Alhaji Wuroh Jalloh, executive director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration told The Associated Press Saturday that ships “hiding” under the Sierra Leonean flag “have recently been removed from the register.”

Jalloh said “in compliance with UN sanctions,” Sierra Leone wants to ensure that no ships flying the Sierra Leone flag that have a connection to Iran or Syria. He said the action is “in relation to the vessel that was seized in Lebanon recently carrying arms for Syria, and allegedly flying the Sierra Leone flag.”

There is growing pressure, from the United States and others, to prevent Iran from using foreign-registered ships to transport its oil, as part of the economic sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.