Iran says to respond to British seizure of oil tanker

Iran's top military commander said on Tuesday that Iran will respond to Britain's recent seizure of its oil tanker in the Strait of Gibraltar at the appropriate time and place, Tasnim news agency reported.

A view of the Grace 1 super tanker in the British territory of Gibraltar on July 4, 2019. [Photo: IC]

Britain "seized the Iranian oil tanker Grace 1 in international waters on bogus charges," said Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.

The British move came in retaliation for Iran's downing of a U.S. drone in the Iranian airspace in June, he added.

"This measure (seizure of the oil tanker) will not go unanswered," the Iranian commander noted.

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.

The Spanish acting foreign minister said the seizure of Grace 1 was at the U.S. request.

On Friday, Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, urged the Iranian authorities to seize a British oil vessel if London refuses to release the Iranian oil tanker.