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Iran says it has seized foreign oil tanker in Gulf Iran says it has seized foreign oil tanker in Gulf
(32 minutes later)
Iranian state TV says Revolutionary Guards forces have seized a foreign tanker with 12 crew accused of smuggling oil.Iranian state TV says Revolutionary Guards forces have seized a foreign tanker with 12 crew accused of smuggling oil.
Thursday’s report says the tanker was taking fuel from Iranian smugglers to foreign customers and was intercepted south of Iran’s Larak Island in the strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil shipping.Thursday’s report says the tanker was taking fuel from Iranian smugglers to foreign customers and was intercepted south of Iran’s Larak Island in the strait of Hormuz, a vital route for oil shipping.
The TV did not identify the tanker or say which country the crew were from, but said it was intercepted on Sunday. The TV did not identify the tanker or say which country the crew were from, but said it was intercepted on Sunday after issuing a distress call.
US officials have previously expressed suspicion that a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Riah that stopped transmitting its location at the weekend had been seized in Iranian territorial waters. “A foreign vessel smuggling one million litres of fuel in the Larak Island of the Persian Gulf has been seized,” the station said. “The vessel that Iran towed to its waters after receiving a distress call, was later seized with the order from the court as we found out that it was smuggling fuel.”
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday said it had aided a foreign oil tanker with a malfunction. US officials have previously expressed suspicion that a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker MT Riah that stopped transmitting its location at the weekend had been seized in Iranian territorial waters.
Iran’s unravelling nuclear deal with world powers has led to increased tensions in the Gulf region after the US pulled out last year and reimposed economic sanctions. In the last months there have been six unattributed attacks on Gulf shipping as well as an attempt to intercept a British ship in the Gulf a fortnight ago.
The seizure of the as yet unnamed tanker by Iran also follows the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker, Grace 1, by Royal Marines. The UK has said the oil was bound for Iran’s close ally Syria, in breach of an EU embargo.The seizure of the as yet unnamed tanker by Iran also follows the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker, Grace 1, by Royal Marines. The UK has said the oil was bound for Iran’s close ally Syria, in breach of an EU embargo.
A UK spokeswoman said it was seeking further information on the reports. “We continue to urge the Iranian authorities to de-escalate the situation in the region,” the spokeswoman said. “We are continuously monitoring the security situation there and are committed to maintaining freedom of navigation, in accordance with international law.”
Tensions between the US and Iran have soared, with Washington dispatching warships to the Gulf, and Tehran threatening to resume higher uranium enrichment.
John Bolton announces the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and a bomber task force in response to 'a number of troubling and escalatory indications and warnings'.
Iran vows to enrich its uranium stockpile closer to weapons-grade levels if world powers fail to negotiate new terms for its nuclear deal. The US responds by imposing sanctions on Iran's metals industry. A day later the EU urges Iran to respect the nuclear deal and says it plans to continue trading with the country despite US sanctions. 
The UAE says four commercial ships off its eastern coast 'were subjected to sabotage operations'.
Yemen's Houthi rebels launch a drone attack on Saudi Arabia, striking a major oil pipeline and taking it out of service.
Saudi Arabia blames Iran for the drone attack on its pipeline.
A rocket lands near the US embassy in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, without harming anyone. It's not clear who is behind the attack, but after the initial reports, Donald Trump tweets: 'If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!'
Senior Pentagon officer Vice-admiral Michael Gilday says the US has a high degree of confidence that Iran's Revolutionary Guards were responsible for the explosions on the four tankers in the Gulf of Oman.
Saudi Arabia says 26 people were wounded in an attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels on an airport in the kingdom's south-western town of Abha.
Two oil tankers near the strategic strait of Hormuz were reportedly attacked in an assault that left one ablaze and adrift as 44 sailors were evacuated from both vessels and the US navy assisted.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say they have shot down what they called a US 'spy' drone they claim was flying in in the country’s airspace. The US military confirm one of its drones has been taken down, but say it was in international airspace.  
Donald Trump reportedly gives approval for the US military to launch strikes on Iran in retaliation for the loss of the drone, before pulling back at the last minute.
The Iranian and US presidents trade insults, with Hassan Rouhani suggesting that Donald Trump suffered from a “mental disorder” and Trump once more threatening Iran with “obliteration”.
Iran summons UK ambassador over an incident off Gibraltar as Royal Marines seize a tanker the UK suspects of carrying oil to Syria.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the body tasked with verifying Iranian compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal, verifies that Tehran has breached the agreed 3.67% limit for enriched uranium.
The UK government says three Iranian boats were warned off by the frigate HMS Montrose after Iranian boats 'attempted to impede' a British oil tanker in strait of Hormuz. Tehran denies involvement.
Iran says it has seized a foreign oil tanker in the Gulf. A report on state TV says the ship was smuggling oil but does not say which country crew are from.
Iran’s unravelling nuclear deal with world powers has led to increased tensions in the Gulf region after the US pulled out last year and reimposed economic sanctions. In the last months there have been six unattributed attacks on Gulf shipping as well as an attempt to intercept a British ship in the Gulf a fortnight ago.
The US has sent advanced fighter jets and thousands of extra troops into the Middle East while attacks on oil tankers and the shooting down of a US military surveillance drone by Iran have added to the fears of an armed conflict breaking out.The US has sent advanced fighter jets and thousands of extra troops into the Middle East while attacks on oil tankers and the shooting down of a US military surveillance drone by Iran have added to the fears of an armed conflict breaking out.
US intelligence is concerned that the ship could have become a victim of Iranian manoeuvres intended to put pressure on Washington to lift crippling economic sanctions as it travelled through the strait of Hormuz
IranIran
Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
US foreign policyUS foreign policy
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