A new incident in the Gulf region. The American channel CNN announced that five Iranian armed boats had attempted on Wednesday (July 10th) to seize a British tanker in the Gulf waters and that they had been repulsed by a frigate of the Royal Navy.
According to the channel, citing two US officials on condition of anonymity, the Iranians ordered the British Heritage tanker, which sailed in the Strait of Hormuz, to change its course to stop in Iranian territorial waters.
An American plane filmed the incident, which ended when the British frigate HMS Montrose, who was escorting the tanker, pointed her arms at the Iranian boats and told them to leave, according to CNN.
"Harassment"
Reuters, citing US officials, confirms the incident. "The Royal Navy HMS Montrose, who was also there, directed his cannons at the ships and warned them by radio, after which they dispersed," said one of the representatives. "This is harassment and an attempt to interfere "in the free movement of the tanker, said another representative.
No comments have been made immediately by the UK Ministry of Defense.
Iranian President Hassan Rohani on Wednesday warned Britain of "consequences" after its decision to board an Iranian oil tanker off Gibraltar last week.
The tension around the Strait of Ormuz, through which nearly one-third of the world's crude oil shipped by sea passes, has peaked in recent weeks with a spiral of events, including attacks of unknown origin against tankers and the destruction of an American drone by Iran. Tehran, accused by Washington of being at the origin of tanker sabotage, denied any responsibility.
An international maritime "coalition" in sight
On Tuesday the US Joint Chiefs of Staff discussed the possibility of an international maritime "coalition" guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Gulf. "I think probably in the next two or three weeks we will determine which countries have the political will to support this initiative, and then we will work directly with the military to identify the specific capabilities that will support this initiative," he said. General Joseph Dunford.
According to this general, the highest ranking American, Washington would provide "knowledge and surveillance of the maritime domain". The Fifth American Fleet is stationed in Bahrain. The tankers would be escorted by the nations under whose flag they sail, as President Donald Trump urged in June.
With AFP and Reuters