Iran denies impeding UK tanker in Hormuz
Print Edition
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards denied yesterday that they had impeded a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, the Sepah news agency said.
“There has been no confrontation in the last 24 hours with any foreign vessels, including British ones,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said in a statement.
Britain said yesterday three Iranian boats had attempted to “impede the passage” of a British oil tanker in Gulf waters, forcing UK warship HMS Montrose to intervene.
The Guards’ statement said that if they were ordered to seize foreign vessels they would do so “immediately, decisively and speedily.”
The incident follows the detention of an Iranian oil tanker by Britain on July 4 off the coast of Gibraltar, a tiny British overseas territory on Spain’s southern tip.
The 330-meter Grace 1 tanker, capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil, was halted by police and customs in Gibraltar with the aid of a detachment of British Royal Marines.
Iran condemned that the detention is an “illegal interception” but Gibraltar officials said that the cargo was believed to be destined for Syria, which is subject to European sanctions.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned Britain on Wednesday of the “consequences” of what he described as “a foolish act.”
“I point out to the British that you initiated insecurity (on the seas) and you shall grasp the consequences of it later on,” he said in comments to the Cabinet broadcast by state TV.
On Monday Iran’s defense minister vowed to respond to Britain’s move.
Calling the tanker seizure an act of maritime piracy, Brigadier-General Amir Hatami said it “will not be tolerated by us and will not go without a response.”
The secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council, a key advisory and arbitration body, said: “If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, the relevant authorities will be duty-bound to take reciprocal action and seize a British oil tanker.”
The incident follows a spike in Iran-US tensions in recent weeks, with the multiple attacks on tanker ships and American surveillance drone being shoot down.
It also comes as Europe mulls how to respond to Iran breaching the uranium enrichment limit it agreed to under a landmark 2015 nuclear deal abandoned by the US.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
