After Iran seized a British tanker in the Persian Gulf, Britain warned the country that it is on a dangerous path. However, Iran responded by saying that it was a reciprocal measure in economic sanctions.
Jeremy Hunt, the Foreign Secretary made a statement on Saturday that the behaviour of Iran is illegal and destabilising before warning them of the serious consequences after the British-flagged tanker was seized.
Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, the spokesman of Iran’s Guardian Council told a news agency the British tanker was seized as a measure of reciprocity when the British navy captured an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar two weeks ago. He further said that Iran as a country moves to “confront the illegitimate economic war and seizure of oil tankers is an instance of this rule and is based on international rights”.
This however, contradicts the message put out by news agency IRNA that claims that the British tanker was captured because it rammed into an Iranian fishing vessel and not because of what happened in Gibraltar.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran is nothing more than a trouble. This remark by the US President was made shortly after the news broke out of the seized tanker. However, he was also quite hopeful that the standoff will eventually work out nicely. He also said that the regime is showing what their true colours are by capturing the tankers and that the country is in big trouble right now.
On the other hand, Britain said that it is ready to return the Iranian vessel if it proves that they weren’t violating the EU sanctions on oil shipments. After six attacks on oil tankers, the Maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz has deteriorated. US has blamed this on Iran but the Tehran government denies this.
These incidents have shook the shipping industry with over two thousand companies now operating in high alert region.
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