A second tanker owned by a United Kingdom-based company was seized by Iran on Friday but was released with a warning.
After Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed they seized a British oil tanker, the Stena Impero, a U.S. official confirmed that a second ship, the Liberian-flagged MV Mesdar, was also seized in the Strait of Hormuz within an hour.
Despite being flagged out of Liberia, the oil tanker is owned by Norbulk Shipping, which is based out of the U.K.
The “Mesdar” *is* #UK-owned.
If it’s confirmed the “Mesdar” has also been intercepted & taken in by the #IRGC, then we’re in very dangerous territory.
That’d be x2 #British tankers seized by #Iran within hours of each other.
Hard not to see this forcing a response. pic.twitter.com/78jowZV1nU
— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) July 19, 2019
Within two hours the Mesdar was released with a warning about maritime regulations. Its transponder was turned back on and tracking data shows that it is heading away from where it was previously seized.
Marine Traffic continues to show the second British tanker, the Mesdar, moving away from Iran after reportedly being released pic.twitter.com/woaBswJTIP
— Steve Lookner (@lookner) July 19, 2019
Norbulk Shipping said the ship’s crew are “safe and well.”
Norbulk Shipping UK who own the Liberian-registered Mesdar says the ship’s crew are “safe and well” and can continue their voyage after the vessel was boarded by armed guards
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) July 19, 2019
The Stena Impero still appears to be in Iranian control.
Before the Mesdar’s release, President Trump briefly addressed the seizures Friday. He told reporters that Iran is “nothing but trouble” and that the U.S. will be speaking with the U.K. about the matter.
“This only goes to show what I’m saying about Iran. Trouble. Nothing but trouble,” he said. “It goes to show you I was right about Iran.”
He added that the “U.S. has very few tankers going in because we’re using a lot of our own energy.”
#Iran is “nothing but trouble” and US will be speaking with #UK. “It goes to show you I was right about Iran.”
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) July 19, 2019
U.K. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt released a statement on the seizures. He said he is “extremely concerned” about the situation and confirmed that there were no British citizens among the crews of the ships.
BREAKING: UK Foreign Sec Jeremy Hunt – “I’m extremely concerned by the seizure of two naval vessels by Iranian authorities in the Strait of Hormuz.” #iran pic.twitter.com/GfjA4jcnWY
— Stuart Hughes (@stuartdhughes) July 19, 2019
Armed aircraft are reportedly protecting a U.S. cargo ship that is located near where the two tankers were seized. The U.S. wouldn’t reveal further details of the operation.
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated in recent weeks. Last month, the U.S. planned airstrikes against Iranian facilities in response to the downing of a U.S. drone, but Trump reportedly called off the attack in the last minutes, citing possible loss of life.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
