UK says Iranian boats ‘tried to intercept British tanker’

The UK defence ministry says Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker near the gulf – before being driven off by a royal navy ship,

The ministry’s spokesman said HMS Montrose moved between the three boats and the tanker British heritage before issuing verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels,

He described the Iranians’ actions as contrary to international law.

Iran had threatened to retaliate for the seizure of one of its own tankers, but denied any attempted seizure.

Boats believed to belong to Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the gulf into the strait of Hormuz.