WATCH: Iran guards seize British-flagged tanker

Iran said they captured the British-flagged Stena Impero, two weeks after British navy seized an Iranian tanker

GENEVA: Iran's Revolutionary Guards posted a video online on Saturday showing speedboats pulling up alongside the detained British-flagged tanker Stena Impero and troops wearing ski masks and carrying machine guns rappelling to its deck from a helicopter. The name of the ship can be seen in the video.

Tehran rejects US claim of 'destroying' Iranian drone in Strait of Hormuz

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— Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) July 20, 2019

Tehran said they had captured the British-flagged Stena Impero, announcing the move two weeks after the British navy seized an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar.

Britain claimed that Iran seized two oil tankers in the Gulf

However, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency said the second vessel, the British-operated Mesdar, had not been seized.

It said the ship had been allowed to continue its course after being given a warning over safety and environmental issues.

The Stena Impero and Mesdar changed direction sharply within 40 minutes of each other shortly after entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, taking up a course toward Iran, Refinitiv tracking data showed.

Brtain told Tehran to return the vessels or face consequences in the latest confrontation to ratchet up tension along a vital international oil shipping route.

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— Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) July 20, 2019