Britain:The UK has said it did not take its eye off the ball over the seizure of a UK-flagged oil tanker in Gulf.Talking to BBC, the chancellor Philip Hammond said the UK has been working closely with US and European partners in response to Iran’s actions.
Meanwhile, ex-Tory party leader Iain Duncan Smith has said British-flagged tanker Stena Impero’s capture is a “major failure” for the UK.
On the other hand, Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said only prudence and foresight would reduce tensions between Iran and Britain.
Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme, Mr Hammond said the UK would pursue “every possible diplomatic route” to resolve the situation.
He said sanctions, including financial, against Iran are already in place, and it was unclear what more could be done.
A recording of radio exchanges between a Royal Navy frigate and Iranian armed forces vessels moments before the tanker was seized was also released.
In the recording, an Iranian vessel tells HMS Montrose it wants to inspect the Stena Impero for security reasons.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency said the tanker was captured after it collided with a fishing boat and failed to respond to calls from the smaller craft.
But Mr Hunt said it was seized in Omani waters in “clear contravention of international law” and forced to sail into Bandar Abbas port in Iran.
The tanker’s owner, Stena Bulk, said it has made a formal request to visit the crew members.
A relative of an Indian crew member aboard the Stena Impero told the BBC on Sunday the family was concerned and had not received any messages from him since the vessel was detained.
The seizure of the Stena Impero comes two weeks after Royal Marines helped seize Iranian tanker Grace 1 off Gibraltar, because of evidence it was carrying oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions.
Mr Hunt said the Grace 1 was detained legally, but Iran said this was “piracy” and threatened to seize a British oil tanker in retaliation(RP)
Iran’s foreign minister Javad Zarif tweeted that the UK “must cease being an accessory to #EconomicTerrorism of the US”.
He said Iran guarantees the security of the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and insisted its action were to “uphold international maritime rules”.
Iran’s ambassador to London has warned the UK against escalating tensions.
Hamid Baeidinejad said in a tweet: “This is quite dangerous and unwise at a sensitive time in the region. Iran however is firm and ready for different scenarios.”
