Iran Says It Seized A British Oil Tanker In Strait Of Hormuz

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Iran Says It Seized A British Oil Tanker In Strait Of Hormuz
By: Bill Chappell - National Public Radio - Europe - 7-19-19
RE: https://www.npr.org/2019/07/19/74355...rait-of-hormuz

Photo link: https://media.npr.org/assets/img/201...7-s800-c85.jpg
The owners of the Stena Impero say the tanker "was approached by unidentified small crafts and a helicopter" as it tried to pass through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.

Iran says its military seized a U.K.-flagged tanker that was passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Friday afternoon. Ship-tracking data show the Stena Impero was traveling from the United Arab Emirates to a port in Saudi Arabia when it suddenly veered toward Iran's coast.

The ship's owners, Sweden's Stena Bulk and its U.K.-based subsidiary Northern Marine Management, confirmed the seizure, issuing a statement saying the 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."

The owners added, "We are presently unable to contact the vessel which is now heading north towards Iran."

The tanker has a crew of 23 sailors — and there have been no reports of any injuries, the owners said, adding, "We are in close contact with U.K. government authorities."

When reached for comment, a U.K. government spokesperson said, "We are urgently seeking further information and assessing the situation following reports of an incident in the Gulf."

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy issued a statement published by the semiofficial Fars news agency saying that the Stena Impero was detained for "disregarding international maritime rules and regulations as it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz."

The Iranian military added that the ship was escorted to Iran's coastal waters.

The tanker's owners say they haven't been able to establish direct contact with the vessel since learning it was intercepted. Built in 2018, the seized tanker has a deadweight tonnage — the weight it can carry — of 49,683 tons.

The interdiction of a British ship comes after tensions have risen sharply in the Strait of Hormuz, which the U.S. Energy Information Administration calls the world's most important strategic chokepoint for oil transport.

On Thursday morning, Iran announced that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy had seized a foreign-flagged oil tanker in the strait. That confiscation took place on Sunday; Iran alleges that the ship was smuggling 1 million liters (264,000 gallons) of fuel.

U.S. officials said later in the day that a Navy warship had taken down an Iranian drone that had gotten too close to the USS Boxer as it passed through the strait.

Two weeks ago, British Royal Marines helped seize an Iranian tanker in the Strait of Gibraltar on suspicion that it was carrying oil from Iran to Syria — a violation of European Union sanctions.

In response, a former Revolutionary Guard commander said Iran should seize a British oil tanker in retaliation. And last week, it seemed that Iran's navy tried to do just that, as the U.K.'s defense ministry announced it had foiled an attempt by three Iranian ships to divert a British oil tanker. Iran denied any involvement.

Iran is currently locked into a standoff with the U.S. — which left a landmark nuclear deal that was signed in 2015 — as well as with European countries that Iran says must now keep their promise to ease economic sanctions despite the threat of U.S. punishments.