UK tells Iran to release seized oil tanker and crew immediately

[SouthernProgressive]

British prime minister chairs emergency meeting to decide on how to respond after Iran seized its oil tanker.

The United Kingdom has called on Iran to release a British-flagged tanker and its crew immediately, describing the seizure of the Stena Impero oil tanker by the Iranian forces as illegal.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commandos rappelled from helicopters and seized the tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday in apparent retaliation for the British capture of an Iranian tanker two weeks earlier.

"The ship was seized under false and illegal pretences and the Iranians should release it and its crew immediately," British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman told reporters on Monday.

"We do not seek confrontation with Iran but it is unacceptable and highly escalatory to seize a ship going about legitimate business through internationally recognised shipping lanes."

Al Jazeera

[Jake Stern]

1. Fuck Britain

Stop enforcing bullshit embargoes against third parties and they won't have to worry about having their ships taken.

[EX500rider]

9. So UN sanctions against the Assad regime in Syria are BS? Big fan of theirs are you? nt

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Why doesn't Britain release the Iranian tanker first or at the same time?

[mr_lebowski]

3. Have to say I'm pretty astounded Iran would do something so brazen ...

Been busy the past couple days ... what is their justification for doing this? Its it really just 'you took our ship, we're taking yours'? Aren't there int'l-recognized sanctions against Iran exporting their oil?

[Voltaire2]

5. It is you took our ship we take your ship.

nothing complicated here. Iran will not be bullied.

[SouthernProgressive]

7. Iran does other bidding.

Has nothing to do with being bullied or not.

[Voltaire2]

8. no. We started this. They are reacting to our blowing up the accord and harassing them.

Iran was not messing with ships in the straits until we blew up the accord, re-instated the sanctions, upped our military presence off their coast, and started harassing and threatening them.

The Brits seized one of their ships, they seized one of the Brits. It is just that simple. Putin is not the super master puppeteer pulling all the strings. This is just our own dumbass leader doing stupid shit and making a mess.

[SouthernProgressive]

11. This is what it looks like when you desperately want something to look only one way...

and will say anything.

Damn near right in the middle you found the reason. Not to be confused with the rest of the nonsense.

[Ghost Dog]

6. Well, no. There are no internationally-recognised sanctions

against Iran exporting their oil.

[EX500rider]

10. Is was because the oil was headed to Syria which does have UN sanctions against that. nt

[Voltaire2]

4. ain't it terrible when your former colonies get all uppity on you?

[pecosbob]

12. I think both parties are doing what feel they need to do given the circumstances

Britain is fulfilling it's responsibility to the U.N. Iran is between a rock and a hard place and had few allies.

[ripcord]

13. Considering both the UN and EU have sanctions against Syria importing oil

I wouldn't be at all suprised if the EU hits Iran with more sanctions.