British say Iran seizes 2 vessels in Strait of Hormuz
LONDON — Britain’s foreign secretary said Iranian authorities seized two vessels Friday in the Strait of Hormuz, actions signaling intensifying tensions in the strategic waterway that has become a flashpoint between Tehran and the West.
Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said one of the seized ships was British-flagged and the other sailed under Liberia’s flag.
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency tweeted shortly after Hunt’s statement that the second tanker had left Iranian water.
“These seizures are unacceptable,” Hunt said as he prepared to enter an emergency government meeting Friday night. “It is essential that freedom of navigation is maintained and that all ships can move safely and freely in the region.”
The seizing of the British tanker marked perhaps the most significant escalation since tensions between Iran and the West began rising in May.
At that time, the U.S. announced it was dispatching an aircraft carrier and additional troops to the Persian Gulf, citing unspecified threats posed by Iran.
The ongoing showdown has caused jitters around the globe, amid fears that any misunderstanding or misstep by either side could lead to war.
President Donald Trump said U.S. officials would talk with Britain about the unfolding crisis.
“This only goes to show what I’m saying about Iran: Trouble, nothing but trouble,” he said.
Trump said “Iran is showing their colors” and “in big trouble right now” because its economy has been crippled by U.S. economic anctions.
The U.S. has asked Mideast allies like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in past weeks to contribute financially and militarily to a Trump administration proposal called the Sentinel Program — a coalition of nations working with the U.S. to preserve maritime security in the Persian Gulf and keep eyes on Iran.