The UK government is stepping up pressure on Iran to release a British oil tanker seized in the Strait of Hormuz, an incident that sent tension soaring in one of the world’s critical energy chokepoints. The UK has demanded the immediate release of the Stena Impero and on Saturday summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires, Mohsen Omidzamani, in London. The government threatened Iran with “serious consequences" and advised UK ships to avoid the area. Friday’s incidents marked at least the second Iranian move against a UK ship in just over a week. On July 11, the British Navy intervened to stop Iran from blocking a commercial oil tanker leaving the Persian Gulf.

Source: Mint July 21, 2019 04:18 UTC