A BRITISH oil tanker with 23 crew on board has been seized by Iranian troops in the Gulf, the country’s state TV said.
The Government’s Cobra committee is holding an emergency meeting in Whitehall tonight after the Stena Impero was halted in the Strait of Hormuz by what the ship’s owners called a “hostile action”.
Ship tracking data showed the vessel changed course while sailing to Saudi Arabia. Shipping line Northern Marine said it had lost contact with the crew as reports claimed it was now heading to an Revolutionary Guard base in Iran.
Iranian state-controlled TV claimed its had seized the ship because it was “violating international maritime rules”.
Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt has been briefed, Sky News reports.
The Ministry of Defence said: “We are urgently seeking further information and assessing the situation following reports of an incident in the Gulf.”
Swedish shipping line Stena – which owns the UK-flagged Impero through its subsidiary Northern Marine – said: “We can confirm that at approximately 4pm BST on July 19 UK registered vessel Stena Impero was approached by unidentified small crafts and a helicopter during transit of the Strait of Hormuz while the vessel was in international waters.
“We are presently unable to contact the vessel which is now heading north towards Iran.
“There are 23 seafarers aboard. There have been no reported injuries and their safety is of primary concern to both owners and managers.
“The priority of both vessel owner Stena Bulk and ship manager Northern Marine Management is the safety and welfare of the crew.”
Just a few days ago Iran’s supreme leader had threatened Britain with retaliation over what he described as the “vicious” seizure of an Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar by UK forces.
Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Britain of “piracy” after the Royal Marines seized a supertanker believed to be carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria on July 4.
He has called for the immediate release of the oil tanker Grace 1, which was detained on suspicion it was breaking European sanctions by taking oil to Syria.
In a TV speech, the Ayatollah said: “Evil Britain commits piracy and steals our ship and gives it a legal appearance.
“Iran and those who believe in our system will not leave such vicious deeds unanswered.”
An Iranian bomb boat was found in the path of a British warship racing to the Gulf just two days ago.
HMS Duncan could have been destroyed by the unmanned attack ship packed with explosives, according to reports.
It comes as the UK is sending three ships to the Gulf.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard also seized another oil tanker on Sunday, the Panama-flagged MT Riah.
The country later released a video showing the troops in speedboats seizing the tanker along with 12 members which it accused of smuggling oil.
The unverified video shows the moment two speedboats circulating the Panama-flagged MT Riah.
The foreign oil tanker was reportedly then seized shortly after being surrounded in stormy waters.
More to follow…
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