Britain repeats demand for Iran to release tanker, mulls response

Britain repeated its demand Monday for Iran to release a UK-flagged tanker seized in the Gulf, as Prime Minister Theresa May's government held crisis talks on how to respond.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Stena Impero with its crew -- 18 Indians, including the captain, three Russians, a Latvian and a Filipino -- on Friday in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

The move came two weeks after British authorities seized an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar on suspicion of breaching sanctions against Syria, and against a backdrop of brinkmanship between Washington and Tehran.

"The ship was seized under false and illegal pretences and the Iranians should release it and its crew immediately," May's spokesman said as she chaired an emergency meeting with ministers and officials.

"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."
Finance Minister Philip Hammond said on Sunday: "We've already got a wide raft of sanctions against Iran, particularly financial sanctions, so it's not clear that there are immediate things we can do. "But we are of course looking at all the options."