![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stateofthenation2012.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/106029588-15635598550938acf2eefcc740a9d_org.jpg\")
<\/a>In this undated photo issued Friday July 19, 2019, by Stena Bulk, showing the British oil tanker Stena Impero at unknown location, which is believed to have been captured by Iran.
Stena Bulk | AP<\/p><\/div>\n
Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard says it seized a British tanker Friday in the Strait of Hormuz, claiming it failed to follow international marine regulations.<\/p>\n
The IRGC took the British tanker, Stena Impero, to a coastal area and turned it over to maritime authorities, according to Iran State TV.<\/p>\n
Reuters reported that a second British-operated tanker had also taken a sharp northerly turn and was heading toward Iran after passing through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf. Reuters said the source on the movement of Liberian flagged tanker Mesdar was Refinitiv data.<\/p>\n
The British government said it was seeking information on the seizure of a tanker, following initial reports on the Stena Impero.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are urgently seeking further information and assessing the situation following reports of an incident in the Gulf,\u201d a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said on Friday.<\/p>\n
The U.S. said it was aware of reports that Iranian forces seized a tanker.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are aware of reports that Iranian forces seized a British oil tanker. This is the second time in just over a week the UK has been the target of escalatory violence by the Iranian regime. The U.S. will continue to work with our allies and partners to defend our security and interests against Iran\u2019s malign behavior,\u201d said National Security Council spokesman Garrett Marquis.<\/p>\n
The move by Iran follows the seizure of an Iranian tanker<\/a>\u00a0earlier this month by the British Royal Marines on suspicion it was breaking European sanctions and taking oil to Syria. Iran has called for the release of that ship, and earlier Friday, a British court in Gibraltar extended the detention of the Iranian oil tanker.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The move comes a day after\u00a0President Donald Trump told reporters that the USS Boxer downed a drone<\/a>\u00a0belonging to Iran. Iran responded by saying it did not own the drone, and the U.S. may have shot down one of its own.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the drone situation and the Gibraltar ruling were just humiliating to the Iranians, and they decided to act. Their patience has run out,\u201d said Kilduff.<\/p>\n Oil prices moved higher, with\u00a0West Texas Intermediate crude futures<\/a>\u00a0settling up about 0.6% at $55.63 per barrel. Brent, the international bench mark was trading up 1.7% at just under $63 per barrel.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a big escalation ahead of the weekend, and the risk premium that had come out of the market over the past week is going to come rushing back in,\u201d said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital.<\/p>\n #IRGC<\/a> says captures #British<\/a> oil tanker named \u2018#StenaImpero<\/a>\u2019 at Strait of #Hormuz<\/a>.#StraitOfHormuz<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/iJyJE6pitT<\/a><\/p>\n — Press TV \ud83d\udd3b (@PressTV) July 19, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n