BREAKING: Seizure of British Tanker by Iran

This is a developing story. Return to this post for updates.

UPDATE 1

Via the Financial Times:

The UK’s Ministry of Defence is urgently investigating the possible interception of a British oil tanker by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz. The British-flagged Stena Impero was transiting the  shipping lanes between Iran and the United Arab Emirates on Friday when tracking websites showed it abruptly changing course and heading into Iranian waters.

UPDATE 2

Via The Guardian

“We are presently unable to contact the vessel which is now heading north towards Iran,” the owners, Stena Bulk, and the ship’s managers, Northern Marine, said in the statement.

UPDATE 3

The Revolutionary Guards has issued a statement saying they had seized the Stena Impero, citing international maritime law for their action.

UPDATE 4

Map via The Guardian

UPDATE 5

The incident comes on the day when the authorities in Gibraltar announced they were extending the detention of an Iranian tanker, the Grace 1, seized by Britain’s Royal Marines, on suspicion of shipping oil to Syria, in violation of an EU embargo. The seizure of the Iranian tanker was made at the request of the US.

UPDATE 6

A Cobra meeting is taking place between officials from Britain's Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence and other Government departments on Friday night to determine the UK's response.

UPDATE 7

Tanker was manned by a 23 sailor crew.

UPDATE 8

The  Stena Impero (owned by Stena Bulk)

UPDATE 9

The IRGC’s Public Relations Department said in a statement on Friday that the vessel named “Stena Impero” had been confiscated “at the request of Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Organization when passing through the Strait of Hormuz, for failing to respect international maritime rules.”

UPDATE 10

Second British tanker may have been seized:

#UPDATE: This is interesting also, this tanker is meant to be heading to Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia. It slowed to 3 knots & turned sharply towards Iran at 16:32 local time... pic.twitter.com/bwwoXnkDFD

— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) July 19, 2019

Mesdar underwent a rapid slow down and change of course towards #Iran. pic.twitter.com/8QJBQlCS2A

— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) July 19, 2019

UPDATE 11

Attached graphic depicts the speed and draught of the Mesdar. Sudden decrease in speed around 17:00 hours; the exact time her course changed to the North. pic.twitter.com/GHbNwhfDL0

— 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙡 𝘾𝙧𝙖𝙗 (@IntelCrab) July 19, 2019

UPDATE 12

#IRGC confirms the seizure of a second #British tanker. #Iran #UK

— Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) July 19, 2019

UPDATE 13

IRGC confirms they are holding TWO English tankers. https://t.co/a07NTkYLTx

— 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙡 𝘾𝙧𝙖𝙗 (@IntelCrab) July 19, 2019

UPDATE 14


No White House confirmation on the second seizure.

UPDATE 15

Via CNN:

US official confirms Iranian seizure of second tanker, Medsar.

UPDATE 16

BREAKING: UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to chair second COBRA meeting tonight at 22:30 local time- Sky News

UPDATE 17

TRUMP TO ADDRESS IRAN'S SEIZURE OF U.K. TANKER, OFFICIAL SAYS

UPDATE 18

Trump statement:

Trump says the U.S. will be working with the U.K. after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps seized a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz pic.twitter.com/9sgrYBVQEP

— Bloomberg TicToc (@tictoc) July 19, 2019

UPDATE 19

#UPDATE: British-linked tanker Mesdar has updated its position after 2 hours and is now increasing speed and turning away from Iran, unclear why pic.twitter.com/rdBamSPvOJ

— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) July 19, 2019

UPDATE 20

[Iranian] Military sources are saying that only Stena Impero has been siezed & no other tanker has been siezed, adding that the Liberian-flagged tanker Mesdar has only been notified on the environmental & maritime regulations & then has continued its path.#Iran

— Abas Aslani (@AbasAslani) July 19, 2019

UPDATE 21

 UK Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt has released a statement on the seized oil tankers:

UPDATE 22

#BREAKING: State media of #Iran's Islamic Regime claims that the #IRGC Navy has released the #UK owned #Mesdar Oil Tanker which had been stopped in #PersianGulf. pic.twitter.com/SctEzOPkoI

— Babak Taghvaee (@BabakTaghvaee) July 19, 2019

UPDATE 23

 The UK Foreign Officer released a statement advising UK shipping to stay out of the Strait of Hormuz “for an interim period.” UK foreign Office said, “our response will be considered and robust and there will be serious consequences if the situation is not resolved.”


-RW