Friday, the Washington Post reported that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said they have seized a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
BBC News reports that “tensions between the UK and Iran,” have increased since Royal Marines “seized an Iranian tanker which was suspected of breaking EU sanctions.”
According to reports Grace 1 was suspected of carrying oil bound for Syria, on July 4th, near Gibraltar.
In response Iran threatened to “seize a British Oil tanker.”
As the News Blender reported on Wednesday, a tanker disappeared in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Riah, “a tanker flagged as Panamanian but docked out of the UAE, moved into Iranian waters and turned off its tracking devices.”
Iran denied that they seized the Riah.
The British vessel Stena Impero is said to have 23 seafarers aboard, according to a company statement, Stena Bulk and Northern Marine Management, have confirmed that the vessel was approached “by unidentified small crafts and a helicopter during transit of the Strait of Hormuz while the vessel was in international waters,” they say the incident happened around 1600 BST and that they have lost contact with the vessel that was heading north toward Iran.
Politico and MSNBC contributor Natasha Bertrand reported via tweets that a British official said that an emergency cabinet office briefing was underway.
British official says a COBRA (emergency cabinet office briefing) is underway re: Iranian seizure of British-flagged ship. Foreign sec to release statement soon.
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) July 19, 2019
President Trump told reporters outside the White House, that he would speak to the UK, adding that the U.S., doesn’t have a lot of tankers in the area.
Pres. Trump: We’ll speak to the UK about Iran seizing their tankers https://t.co/aYIcGo5zvO pic.twitter.com/jNmBRkPTKm
— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 19, 2019
CNN is reporting that according to a U.S. official Iran has also seized a second tanker “the Liberian-flagged MV Mesdar.”
For What It’s Worth.
As the News Blender reported on Friday, the President announced that the U.S. shot down an Iran drone, Iran’s military has said it’s not lost any drones.
BREAKING: Oil jumps as Iran claims to have seized a British-flagged tanker near the Strait of Hormuz; company that owns the ship says it is currently unable to reach it. https://t.co/txjjVscevB pic.twitter.com/oh2gQMPtfT
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) July 19, 2019
