London - British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt said on Saturday that he was worried that Iran had taken a “dangerous path” after it seized a British-flagged tanker on Friday.
“Yesterday’s action in Gulf shows worrying signs Iran may be choosing a dangerous path of illegal and destabilising behaviour after Gibraltar’s LEGAL detention of oil bound for Syria,” Hunt said on Twitter.
“As I said yesterday our reaction will be considered but robust. We have been trying to find a way to resolve Grace 1 issue but WILL ensure the safety of our shipping.” The British navy seized Iran’s Grace 1 tanker in Gibraltar on July 4 on suspicion of smuggling oil to Syria in breach of European Union sanctions.
URGENT London summons Iran's charge d'affaires over tanker seizure
On Saturday, the Foreign Office in London summoned Iran's charge d'affaires, the ministry said, following the seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the Gulf.
The diplomat was called in as European powers urged Iran to release the Stena Impero it seized in the Strait of Hormuz. Britain called it a "dangerous" move.
