US: UK detention of Iranian oil tanker 'excellent news'

Washington: White House National Security Advisor John Bolton applauded the interception by Britain's Gibraltar Thursday of a supertanker believed to be carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria, saying the ship was breaking international sanctions on Tehran.

"Excellent news: UK has detained the supertanker Grace I laden with Iranian oil bound for Syria in violation of EU sanctions," Bolton tweeted.

"America & our allies will continue to prevent regimes in Tehran & Damascus from profiting off this illicit trade," he said.