How do one country&#39;s sanctions on another apply to third parties?
<p>Having just read that Britain has seized a ship sailing under the flag of Panama carrying oil from Iran to Syria, I wonder what the legal basis for this is.</p>

<p>EU sanctions forbid oil exports to Syria. How can the EU enforce such sanctions on a vessel that has no ties to the European Union?</p>

<p>Edit: Apparently the vessel passed through European waters. That may make the difference.</p>

<h2>The ship <em>is</em> tied to the EU</h2>

<p>It was in EU territory (specifically the UK) and therefore subject to UK law.</p>

sanctions