The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has confiscated the British oil tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz. UK authorities said the tanker had ‘veered off course’ before capture.
Marine tracking data showed that the Stena Impero was headed to Saudi Arabia but left the international sea lanes and headed north towards the Iranian island of Qeshm.
Prior to the seizure, the tanker turned off its tracking device and had ignored warnings. The 30,000-ton tanker is owned by Stena Bulk, and was bound for the Saudi port of Al Jubail.
The company is “presently unable to contact the vessel which is now heading north towards Iran.” There are 23 crew members aboard.
Tehran and London have been at odds since July 4, when Royal Marines boarded and seized Iranian tanker Grace 1 off Gibraltar, accusing the ship of illegally transporting oil to Syria.
Iranian authorities condemned the seizure as “piracy” and vowed to retaliate.
RT. com / ABC Flash Point News 2019.
