IRAN ‘NOTHING BUT TROUBLE’
As foe seizes UK tanker, Trump says . . .
Iranian forces seized a UK oil tanker and briefly detained a second ship in the Strait of Hormuz Friday, prompting President Trump to blast Iran as “nothing but trouble” amid mounting tensions between Tehran and the West.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard took responsibility for seizing the 30,000-ton British ship Stena Impero.
The tanker was taken at the request of Iranian maritime authorities for “not following international maritime regulations,” state television reported.
Iran claimed the ship had suddenly veered off course and into Iranian waters.
But the ship’s owners countered that it was “approached by unidentified small crafts and a helicopter . . . while the vessel was in international waters.”
The 23 crew members — who are of indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino nationality — could not be reached, said Stena Bulk, the ship’s owners, and Northern Marine, its managers, in a statement.
“There have been no reported injuries and the safety and welfare of our crew remains our primary focus,” the statement said.
A spokesperson for the company added that the tanker was in “full compliance with all navigation and international regulations” when it was seized.
Bob Sanguinetti, CEO of the UK Chamber of Shipping, called the seizure a “violation of international regulations which protect ships and their crews as they go about their legitimate business in international waters,” according to The Associated Press.
A second vessel, a tanker sailing under a Liberian flag, was stopped in the water and boarded by armed guards before it was allowed to continue on its way.
US and UK officials condemned the aggression by Iran after the seizure.
President Trump said the United States would communicate with British officials about their response.
“This only goes to show what I’m saying about Iran: Trouble, nothing but trouble,” Trump told reporters at the White House Friday afternoon.
“Iran is showing their colors,” Trump said, adding that the Middle Eastern nation is in “big trouble” because of US sanctions that have crippled its economy.
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said, “We’re not looking at military options.
“We’re looking at a diplomatic way to resolve the situation,” he said.
“But we are very clear that it must be resolved.”