Iran blasts UK's seizure of oil tanker as 'threatening act'

A British Royal Navy ship (L) patrols near supertanker Grace 1 suspected of carrying crude oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions after it was detained off the coast of Gibraltar on July 4
AFP/Getty Images
Megan White8 July 2019

Britain's seizure of an Iranian oil tanker was a "threatening act" that will not be tolerated, Iran's Defence Minister Amir Hatami has said.

The tanker was impounded by Royal Marines in Gibraltar on Thursday amid suspicion it was carrying oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

Authorities in the British territory said the tanker can be held for up to 14 days.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander threatened to seize a British ship in retaliation.

A Royal Marine patrol vessel is seen beside the Grace 1 super tanker in the British territory of Gibraltar
AP

Mr Hatami said in a speech on state television on Monday: "These days we witnessed a threatening act from the government of England in the Strait of Gibraltar against a tanker from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

"This is an incorrect and wrong action, an action similar to maritime robbery...certainly these kind of robberies will not be tolerated."

Iran denies the vessel was headed to Syria, where the government of President Bashar al-Assad is an ally of Tehran, but did not specify the final destination of the vessel.

Hatami said Iran's downing of an unmanned American aircraft last month sent a message that the Islamic Republic would defend its borders.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani inspecting nuclear technology
EPA

Washington said the drone was shot down over international waters.

Separately, Iranian army chief Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said on Monday that Iran is not looking for war with any country, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency.

On Sunday, the UK government demanded Iran "immediately stop and reverse" actions which breached the terms of its nuclear deal.

Tehran previously announced it will raise its enrichment of uranium, breaking another limit of its 2015 agreement with world powers.

The country will go beyond the limit of 3.67 per cent enrichment and its government spokesman Ali Rabiei told a news conference the new percentage "will be based on our needs”.

The decision was made a year after US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the deal, putting its future in doubt.

The UK, France, German, Russia and China remain signed up to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal with Iran.

It is aimed at preventing Tehran acquiring nuclear weapons.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "Iran has broken the terms of the JCPOA, following its announcement that it will start uranium enrichment above the 3.67 per cent limit agreed in the nuclear deal.

"While the UK remains fully committed to the deal, Iran must immediately stop and reverse all activities inconsistent with its obligations.

"We are co-ordinating with other JCPOA participants regarding the next steps under the terms of the deal, including a joint commission."

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