UK confirms two vessels taken, one of them British, in ‘unacceptable’ act; Iranian media says second ship released after being detained; US accuses Tehran of ‘escalatory violence’
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, officials in London said, in a move that appeared to infuriate American and British leaders.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it had seized British oil tanker Stena Impero, claiming it “was confiscated by the Revolutionary Guards at the request of Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Organization when passing through the Strait of Hormuz, for failing to respect international maritime rules.”
US officials told CNN there were indications that Iran had seized a second vessel, the Liberian tanker MV Mesdar. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that Masdar had been detained by Iranian forces but was released and left Iranian waters.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt confirmed that two ships had been seized, condemning the incidents as “unacceptable” and saying he was “extremely concerned” by the incidents.
“I’m extremely concerned by the seizure of two naval vessels by Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said in a statement. “These seizures are unacceptable.”
The government was to hold an emergency ministerial meeting later on Friday “to review what we know and what we can do to swiftly secure the release of the two vessels,” Hunt said.
Britain’s ambassador in Tehran was in contact with Iranian authorities “to resolve the situation,” he added.
Hunt later warned of “serious consequences” if the ships were not released.
“We will respond in a way is considered but robust, and we are absolutely clear that if this situation is not resolved quickly there will be serious consequences,” he was quoted saying by Sky News.
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned Iran of consequences for seizing two vessels in the Gulf, one of which has now been released. London's response will be "robust" but not military, he said.
"We will respond in a way that is considered but robust,” Hunt told journalists, adding that the UK hopes to resolve the crisis through diplomacy and “is not looking” at military options.
Hunt said that he has already discussed the incident with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and looks forward to talking to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif. Denouncing the seizures as “unacceptable,” Hunt argued that Tehran would be “the biggest loser” if “freedom of navigation is restricted.”
Hunt said that there are no British citizens among the crew members of either ship. He also added that the British ambassador in Tehran has already contacted the Iranian Foreign Ministry in an attempt to resolve the situation.
Earlier on Friday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Iran’s elite military force – said it has seized the British oil tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz over failure to “respect the international maritime rules.” The vessel sailing to Saudi Arabia was seen changing its course and heading north towards the Iranian island of Qeshm, marine tracking data showed.
Later the same day, another tanker owned by a British company - Norbulk Shipping UK Ltd – the Liberian-flagged ship Mesdar – also suddenly changed its course to Saudi Arabia and sailed to the Iranian mainland. This time, Tehran has not officially confirmed its seizure.
The tanker was apparently released later in the day, with tracking data showing the vessel changing course and heading westward and away from Iran late on Friday. The Iranian private Tasnim news agency reported that the British-owned Mesdar was cleared to continue its course, after having received a warning from the authorities over safety and environmental issues.Norbulk has confirmed that the ship has resumed its travel towards Saudi Arabia, adding that the crew was “safe and well.”
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced the seizure of a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
Update 5:21 p.m. ET: The Iranian regime has freed the second ship seized.
The IRGC, which was recently designated as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States, is reported to have seized a vessel which reports identify as the Stena Impero (MMSI: 232010294) in the busy waterway, which links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
The move may have been retaliation for the recent detention of an Iranian tanker carrying crude oil to Syria by the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, situated at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea on the southern tip of Spain.
Officially, the IRGC claims that “Stena Impero was stopped while passing through the Strait of Hormuz for not observing international marine rules and regulations”, according to the BBC.
“After being confiscated, the tanker was led to the shore and handed over to the Ports and Maritime Organisation for legal procedures and the required investigations,” the IRGC statement added.
IRGC: "This oil tanker named Stena Impero was stopped while passing through the Strait of Hormuz for not observing international marine rules and regulations" pic.twitter.com/KF3sQamqno— BBC Monitoring (@BBCMonitoring) July 19, 2019
The ship’s operator confirmed that their vessel was “approached by unidentifiable small crafts and a helicopter” in international waters — seeming to contract the IRGC’s claims — and that they are no longer able to contact it in the following statement:
2019-07-19 – 19.55Stena Bulk and Northern Marine Management can confirm that at approximately 1600 BST on 19th July UK registered vessel Stena Impero (built 2018, 49,683 DWT) 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.Northern Marine Management has not been able to establish contact directly with the vessel since it was notified of the incident at approximately 1600 Today, 19th July 2019.We are in close contact with UK government authorities.
Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence Penny Mordaunt is being briefed on this situation, but so far the only comment from the Ministry of Defence is that they are seeking more information on the situation as a matter of urgency.
Deputy Assistant to the U.S. President Garrett Marquis commented that he was “aware of reports that Iranian boats seized a British oil tanker,” adding that this was “the second time in just over a week the UK has been the target of escalatory violence by the Iranian regime”.
Tensions between Iran and the United States have also been running high, with the Islamic Republic shooting down a U.S. drone in June, U.S. President Donald Trump narrowly averting a major strike on the country in retaliation, and an Iranian drone reportedly being shot down by a U.S. warship earlier today.
Update: A second tanker with possible U.K. ownership, the Mesdar, has reportedlybroken off course for Saudi Arabia and headed north for Iranian waters. Shortly after these reports broke, U.S. defense officials confirmed the Mesdar was also hijacked by Iranian forces.
This story is developing…
No comments:
Post a Comment