Iran Summons UK Ambassador As Royal Marines Helped Seize Iranian Tanker

By Staff, Agencies

After reports suggesting that the UK’s Royal Marines helped seize an Iranian supertanker carrying oil to Syria off the coast of Gibraltar, Tehran responded by summoning British Ambassador Rob Macaire to its foreign ministry to explain what it described as an “illegal seizure.”

The UK claimed that the incident is part of enforcing the EU’s sanctions regime against Syria.

A detachment of nearly 30 British troops working with the Gibraltarian police intercepted the vessel, which was carrying 2m barrels of oil, in a dramatic maneuver Spain said had been conducted at the US request.

During the meeting, Macaire reiterated the British position, saying: “[The UK] welcomes this firm action by the Gibraltarian authorities” to enforce sanctions against the Syrian regime.

Marines from 42 Commando were involved in the overnight seizure, with some landing on the ship’s deck by rapidly descending down ropes suspended from a Wildcat helicopter, and the rest following up via speedboat.

A grainy black and white image from a thermal camera released by the Ministry of Defense on Thursday showed the helicopter hovering over one end of the ship, intercepted heading east through Gibraltarian waters.

Further color pictures were released showing marines onboard Grace 1, whose ownership had not initially been clear, but whose origin was later confirmed by the Iranian foreign ministry.

Its spokesman tweeted: “Following the illegal seizure of an Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar by British Royal Marines, the UK envoy to Tehran has been summoned to the ministry of foreign affairs.”

Sources at the UK’s Defense Ministry said British troops were at all times acting under the direction of the Gibraltar police. The marines provided the technical expertise to allow the tanker to be boarded at sea.