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[–] UK2USA_patriot ago 

Iran 'seizes British-flagged oil tanker' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49053383 A British-flagged oil tanker has been seized in the Gulf by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Iran media say.

The owners of the Stena Impero, which was bound for Saudi Arabia, say they have been unable to contact the vessel and it is "heading north towards Iran".

They say there are 23 personnel on board and that it was approached by "unidentified small crafts and a helicopter" in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Foreign Office is "urgently" looking into the reports.

The government's emergency committee, Cobra, is meeting in Whitehall to discuss the incident.

A maritime tracking website is also reporting a second tanker with UK links has made a sharp turn towards Iran.

The Ministry of Defence said it was aware of reports about a second vessel - the Liberian MV Mesdar is British owned.

These latest developments come amid heightened tensions between the UK and Iran.

The Tasnim news agency quoted the Ports and Maritime Organisation of Iran as saying: "We received some reports on the British oil tanker, Stena Impero, causing problems.

"We asked the military forces to guide this tanker towards Bandar Abbas port to have the required investigations carried out."

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard-affiliated news agency said the tanker was seized for breaking three regulations: shutting down its GPS; going through the exit of the Strait of Hormuz rather than the entrance; and ignoring warnings.