Iran captures UK tanker: Hunt says there will be ‘serious consequences’ if Revolutionary Guard does not return control of British ship
As it happened
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Your support makes all the difference.Iran has seized a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the tanker “Impero Stena” was seized Friday for “non-compliance with international maritime laws and regulations”.
UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt has warned “if this situation is not resolved quickly there will be serious consequences”.
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“We don’t have many tankers going in,” he told reporters at the White House.
“We’ll talk to the UK”
He said the US has no written agreement with UK, but long standing relations with the country
It has now been confirmed Iran has seized a second UK-linked tanker:
In his comments to reporters, Mr Trump, who pulled the US out of the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal last year, took the opportunity to score a political point: "This only goes to show what I'm saying about Iran. Trouble. Nothing but trouble," he said. "It goes to show you I was right about Iran."
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt just said he he is "extremely concerned" by the "unacceptable" seizure of two oil tankers by Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz
Mr Hunt, the British foreign secretary, has confirmed a second vessel has been seized by Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz.
This is Mr Hunt's statement: “I’m extremely concerned by the seizure of two vessels by Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz.
“I will shortly attend a COBR meeting to review what we know and what we can do to swiftly secure the release of the two vessels - a British-flagged vessel and a Liberian-flagged vessel.
“Their crews comprise a range of nationalities, but we understand there are no British citizens on board either ship.
“Our Ambassador in Tehran is in contact with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve the situation and we are working closely with international partners.
“These seizures are unacceptable. It is essential that freedom of navigation is maintained and that all ships can move safely and freely in the region.”
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