The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have released a video footage which shows how the British oil tanker, Stena Impero was captured on Friday, i.e., July 19, 2019 over Strait of Hormuz.
The video shows a military helicopter hovering over Stena Impero along with 4 high speed vessels chasing the ship. It further shows armed forces personnel wearing face masks and getting down on the ship using ropes. The video was made with the help of 2 different cameras. One camera was operated by an IRCG boat and the other was made by through the helicopter.
Watch the video in the tweet below:
🎥 لحظه توقیف نفتکش انگلیسی توسط تکاوران دریایی سپاه pic.twitter.com/krr1pyuBz9
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) July 20, 2019
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, United Kingdom (U.K.) – Jeremy Hunt said that although his counterpart, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran – Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that Iran wants to de-escalate the issue, but their acts don’t support their words.
Taking to twitter, Jeremy Hunt tweeted, “Just spoke 2 Iranian FM Zarif &expressed extreme disappointment that having assured me last Sat Iran wanted 2 deescalate situation they have behaved in the opposite way. This has 2 be about actions not words if we are to find a way through. British shipping must & will be protected.”
Just spoke 2 Iranian FM Zarif &expressed extreme disappointment that having assured me last Sat Iran wanted 2 deescalate situation they have behaved in the opposite way.This has 2 be about actions not words if we are to find a way through.British shipping must & will be protected
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 20, 2019
He later made another tweet, “Govt emergency cttee COBR met again this pm. Reaffirmed UK desire to de-escalate but confirmed Stena Impero was seized in OMANI waters in clear contravention of international law & discussed how 2 secure safety of UK/int shipping in Straits of Hormuz. Parliament 2 be updated Mon.”
Govt emergency cttee COBR met again this pm.Reaffirmed UK desire to de-escalate but confirmed Stena Impero was seized in OMANI waters in clear contravention of international law & discussed how 2 secure safety of UK/int shipping in Straits of Hormuz. Parliament 2 be updated Mon
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 20, 2019
Justifying their move, Javad Zarif said that seizure has nothing to do with detention of Iranian oil tanker by British Royal Marines at Gibraltar. He mentioned that the seizure of Stena Impero was done to uphold the maritime rules.
Unlike the piracy in the Strait of Gibraltar, our action in the Persian Gulf is to uphold int'l maritime rules.
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) July 20, 2019
As I said in NY, it is IRAN that guarantees the security of the Persian Gulf & the Strait of Hormuz.
UK must cease being an accessory to #EconomicTerrorism of the US.
Expressing Iran’s stand on twitter, he said, “Unlike the piracy in the Strait of Gibraltar, our action in the Persian Gulf is to uphold int’l maritime rules. As I said in NY, it is IRAN that guarantees the security of the Persian Gulf & the Strait of Hormuz. UK must cease being an accessory to #EconomicTerrorism of the US.”
Besides, U.K. is also mulling imposing economic sanctions on Iran.
