Iran's Seizure Of An U.K. Oil Tanker In The Straits Of Hormuz -- News Updates July 20, 2019

The Stena Impero was surrounded by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces at 4pm and ordered to head north. The British registered vessel switched off its maritime tracker a short time later. A second British vessel, Medsar, abruptly changed course towards Iran around 4.45pm. Last night's action follows attacks on six oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and an earlier attempt to seize a British oil tanker which was thwarted by the Royal Navy

Daily Mail: The Royal Navy rushed to stop Iran seizing British tanker but arrived ten minutes late: MoD releases dramatic photos of frigate warding off Iranian speedboats in ANOTHER incident amid criticism of strategy

* The Stena Impero was seized in the Strait of Hormuz at 4pm yesterday by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces
* British-registered tanker was ordered to turn to the north and was taken into Iranian territorial waters
* Warship HMS Montrose, which was patrolling the Persian Gulf, did a U-turn and raced to help captured ship
* A second vessel, the British-operated Mesdar was seized by Iran but was released after being inspected
* Following an emergency COBRA meeting, Iran was warned it faces 'serious consequences' for their actions

A Royal Navy warship raced to help a British oil tanker that was captured by Iran last night but arrived ten minutes too late, a defence source revealed today.

HMS Montrose, which was patrolling the Persian Gulf, was forced to do a U-turn when it received orders to assist the UK-flagged Stena Impero, which had been seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Stena Impero was still in Omani waters when the orders were sent, but by the time HMS Montrose arrived the vessel had been taken and redirected into Iranian territorial waters. It's claimed the Iranians were ready to 'engage' the Type 23 frigate.

Iran's seizure of the British ships was a deliberate act of provocation because the ships were in international waters.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Iranians are saying that they seized the tanker because it collided with a fishing boat .... Seized UK-flagged tanker involved in ‘accident’ with Iranian fishing boat, probe launched – Tehran (RT). No one is buying this story. Another story that Tehran is saying (and one that IMHO is more truthful), is that the seizure was revenge for the seizure of an Iranian tanker .... Iran confiscated British oil tanker according to intl. law: official (MEHR News agency).

Iran's Seizure Of An U.K. Oil Tanker In The Straits Of Hormuz -- News Updates July 20, 2019

Iran says its seizure of British ship a ‘reciprocal’ move -- AP
Iran says it seized tanker after collision, UK fears 'dangerous path' -- Reuters
Iran seizes British tanker in Strait of Hormuz as tensions mount -- France 24
Iran Guards say they confiscated British tanker in Strait of Hormuz -- AFP
Iran's Revolutionary Guard seizes one UK-operated tanker in Strait of Hormuz, briefly detains another -- FOX News
Iran captures British oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz, UK says seizure of Stena Impero 'unacceptable' -- ABC News Online
Iran seizes British oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz -- Al Jazeera
Seized British-flagged tanker anchored off Iran: port authority -- AFP
Russian, Indian, Latvian, Filipino Nationals Aboard UK-Flagged Oil Tanker Seized by IRGC -- Sputnik
UK's Hunt says Iran may be on 'dangerous path' after seizing tanker -- Reuters
Iran on 'dangerous path' with seizure of Stena Impero, says UK -- The Guardian
Western allies back UK over tanker seizure -- AFP
A timeline of escalation in the Gulf -- AFP