The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps on Saturday released video of the operation to capture British-flagged oil tanker, Stena Impero.
IRGC spokesman Brig. Gen. Ramezan Sharif alleged that the Royal Navy ship intervened to try to stop Iran’s naval commandos, including by flying helicopters in the vicinity.
The Fars News Agency has uploaded video footage showing Iranian Revolutionary Guards rappelling onto the detained UK-registered oil tanker in the Straits of Hormuz. Speedboats were also seen alongside the vessel. The video shows the IRGC navy special forces are boarding the tanker using a Mi-17 chopper.
— Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) July 20, 2019
Earlier, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency posted a video of the detained UK oil tanker Stena Impero anchored out at open sea.
? تصاویر جدید از توقیف #نفتکش_انگلیسی pic.twitter.com/PMyXiEfcXR
— خبرگزاری تسنیم ?? (@Tasnimnews_Fa) July 20, 2019
Sharif emphasized that the IRGC’s actions during Friday’s incident were in strict accordance with international maritime laws governing behavior in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. According to the spokesman, ‘some foreign vessels’ failed to comply with these regulations, engaging in behavior which he described as ‘arrogant, provocative and threatening.’
The UK’s Ministry of Defence declined to comment to Reuters on the veracity of the IRGC spokesman’s allegations.
Sharif indicated that the seized British tanker is now located at a port in Hormozgan province, with “legal and judicial procedures” to investigate the incident currently underway.
