Iran seizes British tanker in Strait of Hormuz, Hunt 'extremely disappointed'

(Patria) – A British tanker and another vessel linked to Great Britain were seized in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt stated.

Iran's Fars news agency reported on Saturday that the British tanker collided with a fishing boat before being detained by Iran on Friday. The report also states that the entire crew of the tanker, numbering 23, was transferred to the port of Bandar Abbas and is being held on the tanker until the end of the investigation.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard released a video showing speedboats surrounding the tanker Stena Impero, after which soldiers wearing masks and carrying automatic rifles jumped from a helicopter onto the tanker's deck.

Great Britain condemned the seizure of the tanker, calling it a 'hostile act', and rejected Tehran's explanation that the tanker was seized because it was involved in an accident, writes The Guardian.

Stena Bulk, the company that owns the tanker Stena Impero, claims that during passage through the Strait of Hormuz, 'unidentified boats and a helicopter' approached the tanker, and they were unable to contact the vessel, which was heading towards Iran.

There were no British citizens on board the Stena Impero tanker, which flies the British flag.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard issued a statement saying that the tanker flying the British flag was detained for 'violating international regulations', and that it would be held on the Iranian coast for legal proceedings, writes Euronews.

The UK Foreign Office announced that the second vessel detained by Iran flies the flag of Liberia.

Hunt called the seizure 'unacceptable', stating that 'maintaining freedom of navigation is essential for all ships to move freely and safely through the region'. He reported that the British ambassador in Tehran is in contact with the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs 'to resolve the situation, and we are also cooperating closely with our international partners'.

Hunt expressed 'extreme disappointment' to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif over the phone regarding Iran's move, and Iran's deputy ambassador in London was summoned to the British government headquarters regarding the incident.

Relations between Iran and the West are increasingly tense, as evidenced by the rise in incidents, mostly occurring in the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key strategic point for global oil trade.