Britain calls ship seizure 'hostile act' as Iran releases video of capture

[rooster59]

Britain calls ship seizure 'hostile act' as Iran releases video of capture

By Babak Dehghanpisheh and William Schomberg

 

Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops wearing ski masksare seen on board a helicopter flying over British-flagged tanker Stena Impero near the strait of Hormuz July 19, 2019, in this still image taken from video. Pool via WANA/Reuters TV via REUTERS.

 

GENEVA/LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Saturday denounced Iran's seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf as a "hostile act" and rejected Tehran's explanation that it seized the vessel because it had been involved in an accident.

 

Iran's Revolutionary Guards posted a video online showing speedboats pulling alongside the Stena Impero tanker, its name clearly visible. Troops wearing ski masks and carrying machine guns rappelled to its deck from a helicopter, the same tactics used by British Royal Marines to seize an Iranian tanker off the coast of Gibraltar two weeks ago.

 

Friday's action in the global oil trade's most important waterway has been viewed in the West as a major escalation after three months of confrontation that has already taken Iran and the United States to the brink of war.

 

It follows threats from Tehran to retaliate for Britain's July 4 seizure of the Iranian tanker Grace 1, accused of violating sanctions on Syria.

 

British Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt called the incident a "hostile act". Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he had expressed "extreme disappointment" by phone to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif. Britain also summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in London.

 

A spokesman for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Brigadier-General Ramezan Sharif, said Tehran had seized the ship in the Strait of Hormuz despite the "resistance and interference" of a British warship which had been escorting it. No British warship was visible in the video posted by the Guards.

 

Iran's Fars news agency said the Guards had taken control of the Stena Impero on Friday after it collided with an Iranian fishing boat whose distress call it ignored.

 

The vessel, carrying no cargo, was taken to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. It will remain there with its 23 crew - 18 of them Indians - while the accident is investigated, Iranian news agencies quoted the head of Ports and Maritime Organisation in southern Hormozgan province, Allahmorad Afifipour, as saying.

 

In a letter to the U.N. Security Council, Britain said the tanker was approached by Iranian forces when it was in Omani territorial waters exercising its lawful right of passage, and the action "constitutes illegal interference."

 

"Current tensions are extremely concerning, and our priority is to de-escalate. We do not seek confrontation with Iran," the letter said. "But it is unacceptable and highly escalatory to threaten shipping going about its legitimate business through internationally recognised transit corridors."

 

OIL PRICES UP

 

Zarif told Hunt that the ship must go through a legal process before it can be released, Iran's ISNA news agency reported.

 

The strait, between Iran and the Arabian peninsula, is the sole outlet for exports of most Middle Eastern oil, and the seizure sent oil prices sharply higher. The United States, which tightened sanctions against Iran in May with the aim of halting its oil exports altogether, has been warning for months of an Iranian threat to shipping in the strait.

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he also discussed the situation with Hunt, his British counterpart.

 

"We talked about what they've seen, what they know, and how they're beginning to think about how they will respond," Pompeo said in an interview with the Washington Examiner that was published on Saturday by the State Department. "Iran is in a place today that they have taken themselves."

 

Another oil tanker, the Mesdar, was also boarded by Iranian personnel on Friday and temporarily forced to divert towards Iran, but later was allowed to continue on its route through the strait. On Saturday Algeria's APS news agency said the Mesdar was owned by Algeria's state oil company Sonatrach.

 

France, Germany and the European Union joined Britain in condemning the seizure.

 

The three big European countries are signatories to a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers that Washington undermined by quitting last year, setting Iran's already fragile relations with the West on a downward spiral.

 

Under the pact, Iran agreed to restrict nuclear work in return for lifting sanctions. The European countries opposed the Trump administration's decision to abandon the agreement last year, but have so far failed to fulfil promises to Iran of providing alternative means for it to access world trade.

 

EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT

 

"Just spoke to ... Zarif and expressed extreme disappointment that having assured me last Saturday Iran wanted to de-escalate situation, they have behaved in the opposite way," Hunt wrote on Twitter. "This has to be about actions not words if we are to find a way through."

 

Earlier he said London's reaction would be "considered but robust" and it would ensure the safety of its shipping.

 

On Friday, Hunt said the solution would be found via diplomacy and London was "not looking at military options." Britain's government said it had advised British shipping to stay out of the Hormuz area for an interim period.

 

During the past three months of escalation, the United States and Iran come as close as ever to direct armed conflict.

In June, Tehran shot down a U.S. drone and President Donald Trump ordered retaliatory air strikes, only to call them off just minutes before were to have been carried out.

 

The vessel had been heading to a port in Saudi Arabia and suddenly changed course after passing through the strait.

 

The United States has blamed Iran for a series of attacks on shipping around the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has rejected the allegations. Washington also said it had this week downed an Iranian drone near where the Stena Impero was seized.

 

The United States is sending military personnel and resources to Saudi Arabia for the first time since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003.

 

(Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, Arno Schuetze in Frankfurt, John Irish in Paris, Stephen Addison in London, Michelle Nichols in New York, and Lesley Wroughton in Washington; Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by John Stonestreet, Peter Graff and Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-21

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[YetAnother]

7 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Tehran's explanation that it seized the vessel because it had been involved in an accident

The excuses are always the most fun part

[BritManToo]

They'd better be careful, the UK government needs a distraction at the moment.

Remember the Falklands.

[pegman]

"Iran's Revolutionary Guards posted a video online showing speedboats pulling alongside the Stena Impero tanker, its name clearly visible. Troops wearing ski masks and carrying machine guns rappelled to its deck from a helicopter, the same tactics used by British Royal Marines to seize an Iranian tanker off the coast of Gibraltar two weeks ago."

 

The poetic justice in this action is just the best. That Tory Twit Foreign Minister is "disappointed" is he? Oh my! But no fear, Boris will soon be in charge. What could possibly go wrong, 555!

[sammieuk1]

Boris is part Turkish and speaks gibberish and will know the best time to attack will be on Friday when their all down the mosque and he is PM???? 

[Pedrogaz]

The UK had no right taking Irans ship. EU sanctions do not extend beyond EU countries....the law on that is quite clear. There is an article on this in today's Observer claiming that it was mischief maker John Bolton who wants a war with Iran that first asked Spanish authorities to seize the Iranian ship and they ignored his request....he then asked the British do seize it, who like the faithful, spineless lapdogs they are, seized it. Iranian has simply retaliated. Good on Iran, I say. 

Bolton has humiliated the UK, leaving us with few ways open other than warlock's which is what Bolton clearly wants.

And lest we forget, the whole thing was brought about by the sheer stupidity of Trump's withdrawal from the JCPOA.

[MaxYakov]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

They'd better be careful, the UK government needs a distraction at the moment.

Remember the Falklands.

As long as they don't wear those *)*&)_ ski masks like those Iranian thugs!

[evadgib]

Foreign Secretaries statement (Cobra)

 

MOD update on military presence in the gulf (precedes this latest event)

[nobodysfriend]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

the same tactics used by British Royal Marines to seize an Iranian tanker off the coast of Gibraltar two weeks ago.

That is the explanation .

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"Current tensions are extremely concerning, and our priority is to de-escalate. We do not seek confrontation with Iran," the letter said. "But it is unacceptable and highly escalatory to threaten shipping going about its legitimate business through internationally recognised transit corridors."

" We do not seek confrontation with Iran '" -- > 555

 

" But it is unacceptable and highly escalatory to threaten shipping going about its legitimate business through internationally recognised transit corridors. " ---> BUT THAT IS exactly what the english did in Gibraltar .

[Catoni]

29 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

The UK had no right taking Irans ship. EU sanctions do not extend beyond EU countries....the law on that is quite clear

England is still part of the E.U. They haven’t left yet. So they were quite in the right to seize any ship braking E.U. Sanctions against Syria. 

   On the other hand, the British flagged ships were in international waters and breaking no laws. 

   That much is also quite clear. 

 This started a while ago. How about the Norwegian tanker and Japanese tankers that were bombed? 

    How about the years of Iran chanting “Death to America” “Death to Israel” ???

   How about Iran working towards getting nukes and having the desire to delete Israel from the Earth?

   What about Iran’s support of Hezbolla, Hamas and the Palestinian Jihad groups?

    What about Iran executing teenage girls? And executing gays in public hangings by the slow method to maximize suffering? 

    

[evadgib]

3 minutes ago, Catoni said:

England is still part of the E.U.

The Gibraltar Govt seized the ship with the assistance of British Royal marines; some of whom may well have been English.

HTH

[Catoni]

3 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

That is the explanation .

" We do not seek confrontation with Iran '" -- > 555

 

" But it is unacceptable and highly escalatory to threaten shipping going about its legitimate business through internationally recognised transit corridors. " ---> BUT THAT IS exactly what the english did in Gibraltar .

No...the Iranian tanker was suspected of breaking the European Union sanctions against supplying oil to Syria. It will be released if it shows that it was not breaking those sanctions. 

   The Sanctions were not a secret. Iran was well aware of the law. 

    On the other hand the British tankers were well known not to be breaking any laws in the Strait of Hormuz . 

   Why did Iran just recently bomb a Norwegian tanker and a Japanese tanker? 

[sanemax]

3 minutes ago, Catoni said:

England is still part of the E.U. They haven’t left yet. So they were quite in the right to seize any ship braking E.U. Sanctions against Syria. 

   On the other hand, the British flagged ships were in international waters and breaking no laws. 

   That much is also quite clear. 

 This started a while ago. How about the Norwegian tanker and Japanese tankers that were bombed? 

    How about the years of Iran chanting “Death to America” “Death to Israel” ???

   How about Iran working towards getting nukes and having the desire to delete Israel from the Earth?

   What about Iran’s support of Hezbolla, Hamas and the Palestinian Jihad groups?

    What about Iran executing teenage girls? And executing gays in public hangings by the slow method to maximize suffering? 

    

The seizes UK ships switched off their trackers (which is against the rules) and the ship also went where it shouldnt have gone and also refused to answer radio contact from the Iranians .

  Who bombed the Norwegian and Japanese tankers ?

Iran have stated they dont want nukes

[geoffbezoz]

1 minute ago, Catoni said:

No...the Iranian tanker was suspected of breaking the European Union sanctions against supplying oil to Syria. It will be released if it shows that it was not breaking those sanctions. 

   The Sanctions were not a secret. Iran was well aware of the law. 

    On the other hand the British tankers were well known not to be breaking any laws in the Strait of Hormuz . 

   Why did Iran just recently bomb a Norwegian tanker and a Japanese tanker? 

Well that last part is only alleged. No proof only spoof videos put out by ? yes youv'e guessed it, the Americans. The same ones that just killed a large sea bird claiming it was an Iranian drone.

[sanemax]

It just seems such a coincidence that a UK registered oil tanker  , with "LONDON" written on the back of it , (not the usual Panama registered tanker) , sails in the gulf of Iran and takes action (switching off its tracker, not responding to Iranian radio contact and sails erratically ) that will cause Iran to take responsive measures .

  You could believe that the Uk deliberately wanted Iran to seize the tanker 

[Basil B]

30 minutes ago, sanemax said:

The seizes UK ships switched off their trackers (which is against the rules) and the ship also went where it shouldnt have gone and also refused to answer radio contact from the Iranians .

  Who bombed the Norwegian and Japanese tankers ?

Iran have stated they dont want nukes

Clearly the trackers were turned off after they were seized by the "Pirates" who boarded the vessels. 

 

Let's hope next time these pirates try it again they get blown out the water by an Apache Helicopter. 

[MaxYakov]

33 minutes ago, geoffbezoz said:

Well that last part is only alleged. No proof only spoof videos put out by ? yes youv'e guessed it, the Americans. The same ones that just killed a large sea bird claiming it was an Iranian drone.

Are you sure it wasn't a drone with bird camouflage paint (or maybe even attached feathers)?

[sanemax]

1 minute ago, Basil B said:

Clearly the trackers were turned off after they were seized by the "Pirates" who boarded the vessels. 

 

Let's hope next time these pirates try it again they get blown out the water by an Apache Helicopter. 

Are you stating that it was the Iranian Navy that switched off the trackers ?

If not, who are these "pirates" that you speak of ?

[jany123]

38 minutes ago, Catoni said:

England is still part of the E.U. They haven’t left yet. So they were quite in the right to seize any ship braking E.U. Sanctions against Syria. 

   On the other hand, the British flagged ships were in international waters and breaking no laws. 

   That much is also quite clear. 

 This started a while ago. How about the Norwegian tanker and Japanese tankers that were bombed? 

    How about the years of Iran chanting “Death to America” “Death to Israel” ???

   How about Iran working towards getting nukes and having the desire to delete Israel from the Earth?

   What about Iran’s support of Hezbolla, Hamas and the Palestinian Jihad groups?

    What about Iran executing teenage girls? And executing gays in public hangings by the slow method to maximize suffering? 

    

There was no proof that the Grace was breaking any sanctions... just suspicions.... and the UK is now (lol.. or was, and will be again soon enough) discussing releasing the Grace

 

the Imperio (allegedly.... much like using the word suspicions above) had a collision with an Iranian vessel and refused to respond to distress calls, which is against maritime law.

 

Who damaged the Japanese / Norwegian flagged tankers? What proof can you offer that the US acted clandestinely to escalate tensions  via these actions

 

how many years has it been since the United States started acting deliberately to overthrow and install puppet governments in Iran, which caused the beginnings of the “death to America” chants?

 

iran has always denied nuclear weaponry ambitions and UN inspectors have had a good look up the ayatollahs backside and have verified Iran’s claims, in that they did not or do not have the capability.

 

iran maintains no desire to “delete” Israel from the earth.... they might wish see Palestinian rights returned over the occupiers rights. Occupiers who were given the lands by imperious governments who controlled those lands threw force of arms, at the end of ww2.

 

what about Iran’s support of organizations working to restore Palestinian sovereignty to Palestine by means available, and how does that compare to America’s interference in other countries.

 

but hey.... what can be said about slow executions? I agree It’s pretty messed up. Fast executions, or “humane” executions as practiced by America and some other nations, are a much better way to kill people who transgress against its nations laws. Right?

 

1 hour ago, Catoni said:

That much is also quite clear. 

The only thing that is quite clear, is that your demonstrating an anti Iranian bias... and that’s ok... hate who you like, but hate alone won’t turn falsehoods and half truths into facts. 

[BestB]

UK is screwed. Does not have its own resources to do anything about it. If asking US for help , means having to commit financially and military which again UK can not afford .

 

asking Russia would have been fruitful but UK burned that bridge long ago .

 

so what now? Nothing and Iran knows it and keeps pushing to see how far it can push 

[sanemax]

1 minute ago, BestB said:

 

so what now? Nothing and Iran knows it and keeps pushing to see how far it can push 

I cannot see how Iran is pushing anything .

It legitimately shot down the USA drone and legitimately seized the UK ship 

[BestB]

1 minute ago, sanemax said:

I cannot see how Iran is pushing anything .

It legitimately shot down the USA drone and legitimately seized the UK ship 

I have no doubt Iran sees it just like you

[sanemax]

1 minute ago, BestB said:

I have no doubt Iran sees it just like you

....................and how do you see it

[Jip99]

6 minutes ago, sanemax said:

I cannot see how Iran is pushing anything .

It legitimately shot down the USA drone and legitimately seized the UK ship 

 

 

We have differing views on legitimacy.

[BestB]

3 minutes ago, sanemax said:

....................and how do you see it

Was I not clear in my

original post which you edited ?

[sanemax]

1 minute ago, BestB said:

Was I not clear in my

original post which you edited ?

Not really, it was rather vague , not enough words used giving an explanation 

[sanemax]

3 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

 

 

We have differing views on legitimacy.

The USA drone entered Iranian airspace  , giving the Iranians a legitimate reason to destroy it 

The UK tanker acted erratically , thus giving the Iranians a legitimate reason the apprehend .

[geoffbezoz]

13 minutes ago, sanemax said:

I cannot see how Iran is pushing anything .

It legitimately shot down the USA drone and legitimately seized the UK ship 

Not often I agree with you but in this you are 100% correct

[OneMoreFarang]

There is an easy solution:

We are sorry we highjacked your taker GRACE 1, we release it this moment.

And we are sorry we followed the USA with this stupid idea.

Please forgive us. We won't do it again.

It would also be nice if you would release our tanker to normalize our peaceful relation.

For the future we won't just follow orders from the USA anymore. We will honor the multinational agreement and we will buy Iranian oil as soon as we can. We will also supply you with any peaceful goods you desire.

For the future we want a friendly relationship with Iran.

 

Wouldn't that be wonderful? Win, win for everybody - except the orange warmonger.

[OneMoreFarang]

5 hours ago, ezzra said:

It was abundantly clear what Iran was up to in the Gulf in the days prior to it seizing the British-flagged Stena Impero in the Straits of Hormuz on Friday, July 19. Iran had already sought to impede the movement of the British Heritage tanker according to reports on July 11. Tehran had warned that after the UK seized an Iranian tanker allegedly transporting oil to Syria. 

This now reads like the typical Iran-West story, where Iran blusters and threatens and the Western powers end up begging Iran to end the standoff while everyone pretends they saved face, but clearly Iran looks like it came off better. But the larger story is two-fold. Iran wants to show it continue to do as it pleases in the Gulf, and since May it has done mostly what it wants. Western warships tend to be on the defensive, waiting for Iran’s next move. They don’t harass Iranian shipping. They only down drones or warn IRGC fast-boats when the boats are nearby. Iran chooses the time and place.

The UK appears unable to protect its ships while the US continues to scramble to secure the shipping lanes. This is an unenviable position for the powerful western countries to be in, continually appearing outplayed on the chessboard of brinkmanship by the Iranian grandmaster. But it is precisely this game that Iran plays well, combining diplomacy and military affairs in a Clausewitz strategy of warfare by other means. When even that fails, Iran uses its proxies and allies such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen or groups in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon to threaten where it pleases. Now the ball appears in London’s court as to what it will do about this tanker. Given the reticence to increase tensions, the options for the UK are limited...

( courtesy of haaretz newspaper)

And would all that happen if Trump would not have canceled the agreement that Obama and other nations made with Iran?

It's like kicking the neighbor every day. And then be surprised that the neighbor doesn't like it and kicks back.