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Iran warns UK tanker seizure 'dangerous game' | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Iran has reiterated calls for the UK to release an Iranian-owned oil tanker which was detained by Royal Marines in Gibraltar last week. | |
An Iran official, speaking to state news agency IRNA, warned the UK not to get involved in "this dangerous game". | |
It comes after the UK government said Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker in the Gulf on Wednesday. | |
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said events in the Gulf showed the Royal Navy needs more warships. | |
The leadership hopeful has vowed to reverse cuts to the navy if he becomes PM. | |
The relationship between the UK and Iran has become increasingly strained in recent weeks. | |
Last week Royal Marines helped the authorities in Gibraltar seize the Iranian-owned tanker Grace 1 amid suspicions it was carrying oil to Syria, in breach of EU sanctions. | |
Iran has suggested the UK seized the tanker "at the behest of" the US government "in line with America's hostile policies". | |
Foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said: "This is a dangerous game and we advise them not get involved in this game under America's influence." | |
He added: "We ask them again to release the tanker immediately, which will be in all countries' interest." | |
Iran previously claimed the tanker was not bound for Syria and threatened to seize a British oil tanker in retaliation, if the tanker was not released. | |
On Tuesday, the UK raised the threat to British shipping in Iranian waters in the Gulf to the highest level - where the risk of attack is critical. | On Tuesday, the UK raised the threat to British shipping in Iranian waters in the Gulf to the highest level - where the risk of attack is critical. |
The following day, boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz. | The following day, boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz. |
HMS Montrose, a British frigate shadowing the BP-owned tanker, was forced to move between the three boats and the ship, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. | HMS Montrose, a British frigate shadowing the BP-owned tanker, was forced to move between the three boats and the ship, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. |
Iran denied any involvement in the attempted seizure. | |
'Incredible menace' | |
Tensions escalated between the two countries after Britain said the Iranian regime was "almost certainly" responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in June. | |
The ongoing imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is also a long-standing bone of contention between the two countries. | The ongoing imprisonment of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is also a long-standing bone of contention between the two countries. |
The UK continues to press Iran to release the British-Iranian mother who was jailed for five years in 2016 after being convicted for spying, which she denies. | The UK continues to press Iran to release the British-Iranian mother who was jailed for five years in 2016 after being convicted for spying, which she denies. |
Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Hunt promised to reverse cuts to the size of the Royal Navy. He has previously pledged to boost defence spending by £15bn over the next five years. | |
The foreign secretary said the Royal Navy had been "run down" over recent decades and he would review the size of the current fleet of 19 frigates and destroyers. | |
Mr Hunt's leadership rival, Boris Johnson, has also committed to increasing the UK's defence budget, but BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said his plans appeared more modest. | |
Mr Hunt said there was "incredible menace" behind Iran's actions in the Gulf. | |
He said investment in defence was needed in the face of new threats, such as cyber-attacks, and "to send a strong signal about Britain's role in the world" as it left the European Union. | |
Increasing defence spending would also "keep the Atlantic alliance strong" by demonstrating to the US that the UK is "stepping up to its commitments on defence", he added. | Increasing defence spending would also "keep the Atlantic alliance strong" by demonstrating to the US that the UK is "stepping up to its commitments on defence", he added. |
He said he also wanted to see more fast jets on Britain's two new aircraft carriers, which he described as "a vital tool for projecting power". | He said he also wanted to see more fast jets on Britain's two new aircraft carriers, which he described as "a vital tool for projecting power". |
The UK is one of the few European members of Nato to reach the current target for defence spending of 2% of GDP - but Mr Hunt has pledged to boost this to 2.5% by 2023-24 if he becomes prime minister. | The UK is one of the few European members of Nato to reach the current target for defence spending of 2% of GDP - but Mr Hunt has pledged to boost this to 2.5% by 2023-24 if he becomes prime minister. |
It comes amid growing tensions between the US and Iran, after the Trump administration pulled out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme and reinforced punishing sanctions against Iran. | It comes amid growing tensions between the US and Iran, after the Trump administration pulled out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme and reinforced punishing sanctions against Iran. |