U.K. Says Europe-Led Mission Will Protect Gulf Shipping After Iranian Seizure Of Tanker

Daily Mail: First pictures INSIDE the British tanker captured by Iran: Tehran taunts the UK by releasing photo of terrified crew huddled on board vessel after it was seized by Revolutionary Guard gunmen

* British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero was seized by Iran on Friday as it sailed through the Strait of Hormuz
* First image taken inside vessel shows part of its 23-strong crew being held by Iranian Revolutionary Guards
* Video also shows Iranians talking to the crew around a table, and thanking them for their cooperation
* Tehran seized the tanker after Iranian-flagged vessel was stopped by marines off Gibraltar earlier this month
* Downing Street today said UK 'does not seek confrontation with Iran' but described the move as 'escalatory'
* Russia threw its backing behind ally Iran on Monday, saying its position 'is much more convincing' than UK
* Tehran also said it had arrested 17 suspected CIA spies and will put some to death, further increasing tensions

Iran today paraded the crew of a British-flagged tanker that it captured in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.

Tehran released video of some of the 23-strong crew of the Stena Impero sitting around a table speaking with one of their captors, alongside fresh images showing Revolutionary Guardsmen on board the Swedish-owned vessel.

The video shows seven of the crew wearing red jumpsuits and sitting around a table, as one Iranian guard can be heard thanking them for their cooperation. The cameraman can also be heard telling them not to look at him. Another video shows the crew laughing while standing around a coffee machine, and the ship's cooks preparing food in an apparent attempt to show they are being treated well.

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More News On The U.K. - Iran Oil Tanker Crisis

Europe-led mission will protect Gulf shipping after Iranian seizure of tanker, U.K. says -- CBC/AP
Britain to seek European maritime mission to counter Iran's 'piracy' -- Reuters
Britain blasts Iran seizure of tanker as act of 'state piracy' -- France 24
Iran tanker seizure: Hunt seeks European help on Gulf shipping -- BBC
UK to launch European security mission over Iran row -- DW
Britain planning maritime mission to protect Strait of Hormuz -- UPI
UK tells Iran to release seized oil tanker and crew immediately -- Al Jazeera
Ships urged to alert navies before sailing through Strait of Hormuz -- Reuters
Britain weighs response to Iran Gulf crisis with few good options -- Reuters