NY-bound tanker may have been diverted from Iran

NEW YORK, Aug 12 (Reuters) - A gasoline tanker, which shipping sources said was forbidden by its owner to carry gasoline from Turkey to Iran, was expected to arrive in New York on Aug. 16, according to sources and Reuters data on Thursday.

The impact of new international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear enrichment activities are seen having some impact on day-to-day business, possibly making some players more reluctant to deal with the Islamic Republic.

The Lia, a 73,723 deadweight tonne tanker, was reported off the Portugal last week, according to Reuters Freight Views.

Shipping and oil trading sources said the ship had been chartered by Iranian shipping company, NITC to load gasoline on July 12-15 produced by Turkish refinery from the Turkish Port of Izmit as part of a term supply contract.

But the owner decided not to allow the captain to sail to Iran, they said.

A source said the ship was owned by Pintail B.V.. It is managed by Netherlands-based Marwave Management.

Some sources were unsure if the Lia was the vessel in question, with one source saying that the ship was never going to Iran.

While U.S. companies have been forbidden to go to Iran since 1979, the U.N. Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran in June over a nuclear programme the West suspects is aimed at developing atomic weapons, though Iran says its goals are peaceful.

Any firm that sells gasoline to Iran could face retribution including a possible ban from accessing the U.S. financial system or denial of U.S. contracts, according to a document from the U.S. Treasury.

Turkey will support petrol sales by Turkish companies to Iran, Energy Minister Taner Yildiz told Reuters on Wednesday, despite the U.S. sanctions.