<\/p>\n\n\n<\/noscript><\/p>\nThis handout picture released by Tasnim News Agency on July 20, 2019, shows British-flagged tanker Stena Impero anchored in Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. \u2013 A British-flagged tanker seized by Iran is now at anchor off the port of Bandar Abbas with all its crew aboard after colliding with a fishing boat, authorities said on July 20. The Swedish-owned Stena Impero \u201ccollided with a fishing boat\u201d, said Allah-Morad Afifipoor, director-general of the Hormozgan province port and maritime organisation. (Photo by \u2013 \/ TASNIM NEWS \/ AFP<\/p>\n<\/div>\nBritish Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he told his Iranian counterpart Saturday of his \u201cextreme disappointment\u201d after Tehran seized a UK-flagged tanker in the Gulf.<\/p>\nIn a tweet, Hunt said he had spoken to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif \u201cand expressed extreme disappointment that having assured me last Saturday Iran wanted to de-escalate situation they have behaved in the opposite way\u201d.<\/p>\n\u201cThis has to be about actions, not words if we are to find a way through. British shipping must and will be protected.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Foreign Office in London said it summoned Iran\u2019s charge d\u2019affaires on Saturday.<\/p>\nThe diplomat was called in as European powers urged Iran to release the Stena Impero oil tanker it seized in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.<\/p>\nThe government\u2019s COBRA emergencies committee met late Friday and was expected to meet again on Saturday.<\/p>\nLondon-based maritime security risk analysts Dryad Global said the \u201cdramatic escalation\u201d by Iran was likely to have been a calculated move.<\/p>\nThe interception was \u201clikely to have been a pre-planned operation and intended for use at a time where Iran perceives there to be strategic narrative to be leveraged\u201d, it said.<\/p>\nThe maritime experts said Iran was likely targeting what it perceived as the \u201cjunior\u201d partner to the United States.<\/p>\n\u201cThe UK will be forced to respond, but will find few avenues to do so, both militarily and diplomatically,\u201d the firm said.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/noscript><\/p>\nThis handout picture released by Tasnim News Agency on July 20, 2019, shows British-flagged tanker Stena Impero anchored in Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. \u2013 A British-flagged tanker seized by Iran is now at anchor off the port of Bandar Abbas with all its crew aboard after colliding with a fishing boat, authorities said on July 20. The Swedish-owned Stena Impero \u201ccollided with a fishing boat\u201d, said Allah-Morad Afifipoor, director-general of the Hormozgan province port and maritime organisation. (Photo by \u2013 \/ TASNIM NEWS \/ AFP<\/p>\n<\/div>\nBritish Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he told his Iranian counterpart Saturday of his \u201cextreme disappointment\u201d after Tehran seized a UK-flagged tanker in the Gulf.<\/p>\nIn a tweet, Hunt said he had spoken to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif \u201cand expressed extreme disappointment that having assured me last Saturday Iran wanted to de-escalate situation they have behaved in the opposite way\u201d.<\/p>\n\u201cThis has to be about actions, not words if we are to find a way through. British shipping must and will be protected.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Foreign Office in London said it summoned Iran\u2019s charge d\u2019affaires on Saturday.<\/p>\nThe diplomat was called in as European powers urged Iran to release the Stena Impero oil tanker it seized in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday.<\/p>\nThe government\u2019s COBRA emergencies committee met late Friday and was expected to meet again on Saturday.<\/p>\nLondon-based maritime security risk analysts Dryad Global said the \u201cdramatic escalation\u201d by Iran was likely to have been a calculated move.<\/p>\nThe interception was \u201clikely to have been a pre-planned operation and intended for use at a time where Iran perceives there to be strategic narrative to be leveraged\u201d, it said.<\/p>\nThe maritime experts said Iran was likely targeting what it perceived as the \u201cjunior\u201d partner to the United States.<\/p>\n\u201cThe UK will be forced to respond, but will find few avenues to do so, both militarily and diplomatically,\u201d the firm said.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n
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