Stopped by Iranian Revolutionary Guard

On Friday, July 19, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard reports that a Swedish-owned British oil tanker was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident is confirmed by the Swedish company Stena Bulk. The crew on board consists of 23 people from Russia, India, Latvia and the Philippines. No one is reported to have been injured and all are being held in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas.

Decisions on seized Iranian thoughts on the same day

The seizure takes place on the day that Gibraltar's highest legal body has decided that Iranian oil tanker Grace 1 may be detained for a further 30 days. The vessel was stopped on 4 July by British marines after suspicions that it was on its way to Syria with oil, which is in violation of EU sanctions. Iran has previously threatened to seize a British vessel unless Grace 1 is released.

Britain denies Iranian data

The tanker Stena Impero was on its way to Saudi Arabia when it was stopped. According to Iran, the ship was in Iranian territory, but both Britain and Stena Bulk claim it was on international waters.

According to Iran, the ship must have collided with another boat and then ignored several calls and shut down its tracker. However, the United Kingdom denies the information.

Iran releases images of the seizure

On Saturday, July 20, Iran releases a film that is reported to show the seizure. The pictures show how a helicopter hovers over the ship and how masked troops are fired down on deck. What happens on board is not shown.

Britain accuses Iran of crime

Britain's Defense Minister Penny Mordaunt describes the seizure as a "hostile act". Former Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt warns Iran of consequences and writes on Twitter that the incident "shows worrying signals that Iran is choosing a dangerous path of illegal and destabilizing behavior after Gibraltar".

In a letter to the UN Security Council, Britain writes that Iran is in violation of international law. They also write that they are not seeking confrontation with the country.

Iran believes it was a "legal measure"

Iran does not agree that the act is criminal. At a press conference on Monday, July 22, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei called the seizure a "legal action".

- Iran confronted the ship to ensure the security of the region.

He also calls on the countries asking Iran to release the ship to ask Britain for the same, and refers to the seizure of Grace 1.

Britain wants European protection cooperation

On Monday, July 22, then-British Prime Minister Theresa May calls for a crisis meeting with defense ministers and officials to discuss how the government should respond to Iran's actions.

At the meeting, then-Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt announces that the UK will try to form a European security cooperation to support safe travel in the important Strait of Hormuz. This was after rejecting the US offer to form a "coalition of fleets" in the region. On the same day, the United Kingdom also announces that they are sending a new military aircraft to the area.