Iran threatens to seize British oil tanker in retaliation unless ship taken by Royal Marines off Gibraltar released

Harry Cockburn

Iran has threatened to seize a British oil tanker unless an Iranian ship detained by the Royal Marines is released, the country’s Revolutionary Guards commander said on Friday.

Mohsen Rezaee said on Twitter Iran’s “duty” was to act alike, and seize a British oil tanker, unless Iran’s ship was released immediately.

British Royal Marines detained an oil tanker in Gibraltar suspected of carrying oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions on Thursday – a dramatic step that could escalate confrontation between the West and Iran.

The Marines abseiled onto the Grace 1 tanker on Thursday and landed a helicopter on the moving vessel in pitch darkness.

Tehran had already summoned the British ambassador to voice “its very strong objection to the illegal and unacceptable seizure” of its ship.

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