Iran summoned the Swiss envoy, who represents US interests in Tehran, on Friday to express its displeasure with the US seizure of Iranian oil from a Russian-operated tanker near Greece, according to Iranian media.

The ministry demanded that the ship and its cargo be released immediately, according to the Iranian state news agency IRNA.

The US imposed sanctions on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force on Wednesday, accusing it of being part of a Russian-backed oil smuggling and money laundering network.

The US Department of Justice’s spokeswoman declined to comment on the oil seizure.

“The Islamic Republic expressed its deep concern over the US government’s continued violation of international laws and international maritime conventions,”  the foreign ministry said, according to IRNA and other media.

The US Department of Justice has “informed Greece that the cargo on the vessel is Iranian oil,” a source at Greece’s maritime ministry told Reuters on Thursday.

It remained unclear if the cargo was seized because it contained Iranian oil or because the vessel was subjected to sanctions because of its ties to Russia. The US has imposed sanctions on both Iran and Russia.

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