Iran should retaliate upon Britain's seizure of Iranian oil tanker: official

A senior Iranian official said Friday that Iran should seize a British oil vessel in case London refuses to release the Iranian oil tanker, Press TV reported.

A handout picture provided by the British Ministry of Defence shows the Panama registered Grace 1 oil tanker after British Royal Marines from 42 Commando took part in the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker in the Gibraltar Strait on July 4, 2019. [Photo: IC]

"If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, it is the Iranian authorities' duty to make a reciprocal move and seize a British oil tanker," said Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council.

On Thursday, British Royal Marines in the Strait of Gibraltar seized an Iranian ship which was heading to Syria "in breach of EU sanctions," western media reported.

Spain's acting foreign minister said the seizure of the ship Grace 1 was at the U.S. request.

"Iran will never hesitate to respond to such bullies," Rezaei was quoted as saying by Press TV.

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Thursday summoned British ambassador to Tehran, Robert Macaire, over the issue of oil tanker seizure.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry called the seizure of Iranian oil tanker as an act of "piracy" and "illegal."