UK says Iran must abide by the assurances on Grace 1 tanker

LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday Iranmust abide by assurances it had given that the Grace 1 tankerwould not travel to Syria, and said it would not allow Iran oranyone to bypass European Union sanctions.

"We note the Government of Gibraltar has received assurancesfrom Iran that the Grace 1 will not proceed to Syria. Iran mustabide by the assurances they have provided," a British foreignoffice spokesman said in a statement.

"We will not stand by and allow Iran – or anyone – to bypassvital EU sanctions on a regime that has deployed chemicalweapons against its own people.

"There is no comparison or linkage between Iran'sunacceptable and illegal seizure of, and attacks on, commercialshipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the enforcement ofEU Syria sanctions by the Government of Gibraltar."

(Reporting by William James and Guy Faulconbridge, Editing byPaul Sandle)