
A Royal Navy warship raced to help a British oil tanker that was captured by Iran last night but arrived ten minutes too late, a defence source revealed today.

HMS Montrose, which was patrolling the Persian Gulf, was forced to do a U-turn when it received orders to assist the UK-flagged Stena Impero, which had been seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Stena Impero was still in Omani waters when the orders were sent, but by the time HMS Montrose arrived the vessel had been taken and redirected into Iranian territorial waters. It's claimed the Iranians were ready to 'engage' the Type 23 frigate.

Iran's seizure of the British ships was a deliberate act of provocation because the ships were in international waters.

The action prompted a late night meeting of the COBRA emergency security committee chaired by Prime Minister Theresa May.

Following the meeting, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt promised a 'robust response' and said there would be 'serious consequences' if the issue was not resolved quickly.

Security officials have warned UK shipping to stay clear of the Strait of Hormuz 'for an interim period'. The Foreign Office has also summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires following the seizure.

It's thought Iranian authorities seized the British ships in retaliation for the detention of an Iranian vessel by the UK last week.

The Grace 1 tanker was captured by UK forces off the coast of Gibraltar on July 4. The Foreign Office claimed the Iranian ship it had violated EU sanctions by carrying a cargo of crude oil destined for Syria.

Iran originally claimed it seized the Stena Impero, with a crew of 23 crew aboard, because she was involved an accident with an Iranian fishing boat and ignored distress calls.

But today the country's Guardian Council admitted it was revenge for the attack on Grace 1 earlier this month.

Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, a council spokesman, was quoted in the semi-official Fars news agency as saying 'The rule of reciprocal action is well-known in international law.'

Kadkhodaei said Iran made the right decision in the face of an 'illegitimate economic war and seizure of oil tankers.'

An image released by the Iran Students News Agency (ISNA), which is partially funded by the country's Government, claims to show the seized British tanker Stena Impero anchored in southern Iran

The UK-flagged vessel was been seized by Iranian authorities while passing through the Strait of Hormuz yesterday

The Ministry of Defence released this photo of HMS Montrose warding off Iranian Revolutionary Guard speedboats (circled) which harassed the UK-flagged tanker British Heritage on July 10. It comes after critics questioned why last night's oil tankers were not escorted by warships amid ongoing tensions with Iran

The Stena Impero was surrounded by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces at 4pm and ordered to head north. The British registered vessel switched off its maritime tracker a short time later. A second British vessel, Medsar, abruptly changed course towards Iran around 4.45pm. Last night's action follows attacks on six oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and an earlier attempt to seize a British oil tanker which was thwarted by the Royal Navy

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard uses a large number of high-speed small vessels to harass shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The regime launched these 'ultra-fast' boats in 2010

An image released today by the Iran Students News Agency (ISNA), which is partially funded by the country's Government, claimed to show the seized Stena Impero anchored in Bandar Abbas in southern Iran.

At around 11am on Saturday, the ISNA shared the photo on Twitter and said crew members may be summoned for 'technical questioning'.

The tweet also claimed the seized tanker 'had no cargo' and that all 23 of the crew were being kept in the vessel 'to maintain its safety'.

In the early hours, the acting US Secretary of Defense Richard Spencer announced he is sending several hundred troops, as well as a glut of aircraft and air defense missiles, to Saudi Arabia in order to counter Iran's threat. The Royal Navy has sent destroyer HMS Duncan to join HMS Montrose in the Gulf.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who attended the emergency meeting held in the Cabinet Office Briefing Room, branded the seizing of two British oil tankers by Iran as 'completely unacceptable'.

The first vessel, the Stena Impero, was surrounded by heavily-armed Iranian vessels and a helicopter around 4pm yesterday and ordered to turn north.

Stena Bulk, the Swedish-based owners of the ship, said on Saturday they were preparing a formal request to visit its 23 crew members.

'Our insurers in the region have been in contact with the Head of Marine Affairs at the Port of Bandar Abbas, who has reported that the crew members of our vessel Stena Impero are in good health.' Stena said in a statement.

The Iranians had asked that a formal request be made for a visit to be arranged to the crew members and vessel and that one was duly being prepared, it said.

The crew of the seized Stena Impero are of Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino nationality, Stena said.

India said Saturday it was in touch with Tehran to secure the release of 18 of its nationals, while The Philippines also said it would ask Iran to free a Filipino crew member.

The second vessel, the Mesdar, is Liberian flagged, but owned by British company Norbulk Shipping, was ordered by Iran to turn north around 45 minutes later. It was later released after being boarded and inspected by Iranian troops.

According to Number 10: 'We remain deeply concerned about Iran's unacceptable actions which represent a clear challenge to international freedom of navigation. We have advised UK shipping to stay out of the area for an interim period.

'As the Foreign Secretary has said, our response will be considered and robust and there will be serious consequences if the situation is not resolved.

'We remain in close contact with our international partners and there will be further meetings over the weekend.'

A spokesman for the owner of the Stena Impero said the vessel was in 'full compliance with all navigation and international regulations', when it was seized.

There are no reported injuries to the vessel's crew, who are Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino in nationality.

According to the company, the vessel, which was built in 2018 'is no longer under the control of the crew and remains uncontactable'.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, pictured on Wednesday, attended a meeting of the Cabinet COBR committee to discuss the worsening Iranian crisis

Transport secretary Chris Grayling was smiling as he left the emergency COBRA meeting in Whitehall last night

Iranian authorities have yet to comment on the Mesdar, but marine tracking data showed it turning dramatically off course and towards the Iranian coast.

Lord West, a former head of the Royal Navy, said the UK should not 'pretend we're surprised' by the Stena Impero incident and blasted the British navy for having 'too few ships'.

He told Sky News: 'What I find extraordinary is that we knew that the Iranians would try something like this a few days ago.

'I'm absolutely amazed that we haven't implemented some sort of control of red ensign shipping within the region whereby no tanker would go in to what is clearly a dangerous zone without an escort, and I find it bizarre that we seem to have ships doing exactly that.'

Fears were raised that the Iranian authorities were trying to seize a UK ship in retaliation for the detention of the Grace 1 tanker.

The Iranian ship was detained off the coast of Gibraltar on July 4, with the Foreign Office claiming it had violated EU sanctions by carrying a cargo of crude oil destined for Syria.

But there was no statement from the office of the European External Action Service, the body responsible for conducting EU's foreign and security policy, and there is no precedent of shipments of oil to Syria being impounded.

It prompted Spain to accuse the UK of acting under the instruction of the US - which is trying to freeze all Iranian oil exports to force the country into reopen talks on the nuclear deal signed in 2015.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the tanker's seizure an act of 'piracy' on Tuesday and warned the UK to expect a response.

The ship's captain, chief officer and two second officers were arrested and bailed and an investigation is ongoing.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt offered to help release Grace 1 if Iran guaranteed it would not breach sanctions imposed on Bashar Assad's regime.

Former chief of defence staff Lord Richards said Britain was 'pretty limited' in what military action it could take without the support of allies such as the US.

He told BBC's Today programme: 'The fact is for whatever reason our government has invested relatively little against the threat and the risks that we face particularly more and more in the longer term.

'The Royal Navy, if you're looking at that in the first instance, is just too small to have a significant effect without being with allies.

'I think we're pretty limited other than under the cloak of the Americans in what we can do.'

US President Donald Trump, pictured, said he was going to talk to UK authorities about yesterday's action by Iran

US President Donald Trump said America would be 'working with the UK'. He told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House as he was about to board Marine One: 'We will talk to the UK and we have no written agreement but we have an agreement. They've been a very great ally of ours.

'So we heard about it, we heard it was one, we heard it was two, and we will be working with the UK.'

He described Iran as 'nothing but trouble', but predicted the standoff would eventually work out 'very nicely'.

The president said: 'Iran is showing their colours' and said Tehran 'is in big trouble right now' because of the impact of sanctions on its economy.

It comes as Iran released footage it says disproves Trump's claims the US destroyed an Iranian drone.

On Thursday, the President announced the US Navy had shot down an Iranian drone over the strategic Strait of Hormuz after it refused to back down.

But late last night Iranian state TV released video that appeared to show the military drone hovering above a US warship in the Gulf.

The footage shows black and white aerial views of warships moving in water, with the time, date and geographical co-ordinates on screen.

Iran said it was taken by the drone hours after it had allegedly been downed. But despite the denial from Iran, Trump said he had 'no doubt' the drone had been taken down.

In June, tensions flared up when Iran shot down a US military drone in the same area.

Iranian state TV released this drone footage and says it disproves Donald Trump's claims the US destroyed it on Thursday

The footage shows black and white aerial views of warships moving in water, with the time, date and geographical co-ordinates on screen. Iran said it was taken by the drone hours after it had allegedly been downed

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn appeared to blame Donald Trump for the attacks last night. He said: 'The seizure of these vessels is unacceptable, and the tanker that remains under Iranian control must be released. Escalation risks a slide into an even deeper conflict.

'President Trump's decision to tear up the Iran nuclear deal fuelled the risk of full-scale conflict. A negotiated reinstatement of the nuclear deal through the UN is essential to wind down tensions and defuse the threat of war in the Gulf.'

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson urged caution in a series of tweets: 'These reports are a matter of real concern. We know that some days ago there was an attempt to steer a British tanker towards Iranian waters.

'Our ships have the right of safe passage and the Stena Impero must be allowed to continue its voyage unimpeded.

'Any move to seize a British tanker would be a significant and harmful escalation of a situation where de-escalation is needed.'

This image, released from Iranian state TV shows Revolutionary Guard speedboats harrying a Panamanian oil tanker on July 14

Royal Marine Commandos intercepted the Grace I off the coast of Gibraltar, on July 14. The vessel, which is Iranian owned is suspected of smuggling oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions

A second UK-owned vessel, the Mesdar, turned dramatically towards Iran around 45 minutes after the Stena Impero was seized

The Stena Impero had left Fujairah in Dubai and moved into the Strait of Hormuz when it was intercepted.

According to Iranian state TV, the Stena Impero tanker 'was confiscated by the Revolutionary Guards at the request of Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Organisation when passing through the strait of Hormuz, for failing to respect international maritime rules.'

It is understood the British-flagged tanker was surrounded by small craft and helicopters and ordered to turn north into Iranian waters.

A statement from Stena Bulk, the company which owns the tanker, said the firm had lost contact with the crew of 23 after it was approached by 'unidentified small crafts and a helicopter' at around 4pm.

According to Marine Traffic, the Mesdar turned dramatically north shortly before 5pm UK time yesterday

The statement said: 'Stena Bulk and Northern Marine Management can confirm that at approximately 1600 BST on 19th July UK registered vessel Stena Impero (built 2018, 49,683 DWT) was approached by unidentified small crafts and a helicopter during transit of the Strait of Hormuz while the vessel was in international waters.

'We are presently unable to contact the vessel which is now heading north towards Iran.

'There are 23 seafarers aboard. There have been no reported injuries and their safety is of primary concern to both owners and managers.

'The priority of both vessel owner Stena Bulk and ship manager Northern Marine Management is the safety and welfare of the crew.'

According to Norbulk Shipping UK, the crew of the Liberian-registered Mesdar tanker which was seized are 'safe and well'.

The company said the vessel was boarded by armed guards but has now been allowed to continue with its voyage.

It is now feared that the growing tension along the Strait of Hormuz, which carries one-third of the world's crude oil supplies, could see a dramatic increase in the price of petrol and diesel.

Last week, the Royal Navy warship frigate HMS Montrose drove off three Iranian vessels which tried to stop the commercial ship British Heritage as it sailed through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran today denied claims by US President Donald Trump that the USS Boxer, pictured in footage captured by an Iranian drone, shot down the un-manned aircraft over the Strait of Hormuz

The USS Boxer was armed with a Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System (LMADIS) counter-unmanned aircraft system mounted on a vehicle parked at the bow

An Ministry of Defence spokesman said: 'We are urgently seeking further information and assessing the situation following reports of an incident in the Gulf.'

The UK Chamber of Shipping demanded extra protection for merchant vessels operating in the Persian Gulf.

Bob Sanguinetti, CEO of the Chamber said: 'We condemn unreservedly the capture of Stena Impero as she transited the Strait of Hormuz earlier today.

'This incident represents an escalation. Whilst we call for measured response, it is also clear that further protection for merchant vessels must be forthcoming to ensure enhanced security to guarantee free flow of trade in the region.'

The incident came as Iran and the United States emphatically disagreed Friday over Washington's claim that a U.S. warship downed an Iranian drone near the Persian Gulf. American officials said they used electronic jamming to bring down the unmanned aircraft, while Iran said it simply didn't happen.

Neither side provided evidence to prove its claim.

At the White House on Friday, President Donald Trump said flatly of the Iranian drone: 'We shot it down.' But Pentagon and other officials have said repeatedly that the USS Boxer, a Navy ship in the Strait of Hormuz, actually jammed the drone's signal, causing it to crash, and did not fire a missile. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive technology.

Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, said, 'There is no question this was an Iranian drone, and the USS Boxer took it out as the president announced yesterday because it posed a threat to the ship and its crew. It's entirely the right thing to do.'

In Tehran, the Iranian military said all its drones had returned safely to their bases and denied there was any confrontation with the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship.

Earlier today, Gibraltar's Supreme Court announced it would extend by 30 days the detention of an Iranian tanker seized two weeks ago on allegations that it was headed to Syria in violation of sanctions.

British authorities' detention of the Grace 1 supertanker sparked outrage in Tehran, which accused London of doing the bidding of the Washington in action that is 'tantamount to maritime banditry'.

On Tuesday, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused the 'vicious British' of 'piracy' and vowed retaliation.

The Guards also seized another 'foreign tanker' on Thursday, believed to be the Panamanian-flagged vessel Riah and its crew, and accused the ship of smuggling Iranian fuel.

A series of such incidents have sent tensions soaring between Iran on one side and the US and its allies on the other, raising fears of a regional war in the Gulf.

The Strait of Hormuz is the conduit for nearly a third of the world's crude oil.

MARK ALMOND: Blinkered Iranian bullies are close to igniting a suicidal conflict after seizing British tanker The Stena Impero is a small tanker, only 30,000 tonnes. But its seizure by Iran's Revolutionary Guard has turned the ship into the epicentre of a global crisis. Some will say Britain provoked this crisis by arresting a tanker off Gibraltar because it was carrying Iranian fuel to Bashar al-Assad's Syria, where EU states have imposed sanctions. It was not by chance that Iran's special forces grabbed our tanker yesterday just hours after Gibraltar's courts decided to keep this vessel, the Grace 1, impounded. The Stena Impero is a small tanker, only 30,000 tonnes. But its seizure by Iran's Revolutionary Guard has turned the ship into the epicentre of a global crisis. But even if we now appeased Iran and over-rode the court process in Gibraltar to let the ship sail on, would it actually calm things down? In all probability any sign of weakness by Britain would embolden the hardliners in Tehran who see stirring up trouble as the best way to rally popular support for the embattled Islamic Republic at home. Making concessions to Iran when we are being held over a barrel of oil with a gun to our heads is not the best way of deterring future acts of piracy. In any case, it is not clear who Whitehall should speak to in Iran in order to negotiate a way out of this predicament. The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, for example, was talking peace and sweet reason at the United Nations in New York only hours before the Revolutionary Guard grabbed the Stena Impero. Either he is out of the loop making his peace overtures – or he was speaking with a forked tongue. Whatever the case, it means Iranian diplomats are not a channel to be trusted to get things resolved. Of course, this incident comes on the back of rapidly increasing tension between the US and Iran. In the past few weeks, the Gulf has seen mysterious attacks on tankers by anonymous saboteurs, who are almost certainly Iranians. An American drone has been shot down by Iran and then on Thursday night an Iranian drone got too close to the USS Boxer and was brought down by the Americans. No lives have been lost so far. That's mainly because Donald Trump showed restraint because he wanted to avoid risking civilian lives after the US drone was downed. But the Iranian Revolutionary Guard seem only too happy to play with fire. And they appear to take Western restraint as sign of weakness, even decadence. President Trump's economic warfare against Iran is crippling the ayatollahs' economy. He hopes that this will bring them to talks like the ones he has held with North Korea's dictator Kim Jong-un. But while maximum economic pressure makes sense to Western strategists, to Iranian hardliners it is a sign that the US and its allies are frightened of a fight. There may be some truth in this view – after all, war with Iran would be no walkover. Yet Iranian hardliners are working under a dangerous illusion if they think Washington and its allies will back down whatever the provocation. Everyone knows how complex and explosive the Middle East is. But a key factor in world trade and prosperity is threatened by Iran's actions. Free passage of oil and other products not only through the Persian Gulf but around the world on the high seas is a principle on which the functioning of the global economy depends. And it is not just Britain and America that have a stake in that. The blinkered bullies of Iran's Revolutionary Guard don't seem to realise how close they are to igniting a suicidal confrontation. The question is whether there is anyone who can make them see reason. Mark Almond is director of the Crisis Research Institute, Oxford Advertisement

Timeline of tension in the Persian Gulf The seizure of the Stena Impero tanker in the Strait of Hormuz is the latest episode to contribute to rising tensions between the UK, US and Iran in the region. Here is a timeline of recent incidents involving the three nations: June 13: Two US oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz were attacked in an assault that left one ablaze and adrift, with 44 sailors evacuated from both vessels. The US Navy went to assist, with US President Donald Trump blaming Iran for the incidents. Iran denied involvement in the tanker attacks and accused the US of promoting an 'Iranophobic' campaign. June 20: A US military drone worth 100 million US dollars (£78 million) was downed by Tehran, with Iran's president Hassan Rouhani claiming it had violated their airspace. The move marked a new high in the rising tensions between the two countries, as Iran's naval commander warned his forces would not hesitate to down more US drones if they entered its airspace. Mr Trump then pulled back from the brink of retaliatory military strikes on Iran after he was told 150 people could die. He has since signed an executive order targeting Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei and his associates with financial sanctions. July 4: Royal Marines from 42 Commando were involved in an operation to seize a supertanker off Gibraltar suspected of carrying oil destined for Bashar Assad's Syrian regime. They boarded the ship by descending on ropes from a Wildcat helicopter and by using rigid inflatable boats. They worked alongside authorities in Gibraltar to detain the Iranian tanker Grace 1, which was believed to be heading to the Banyas refinery in breach of EU sanctions. In response, Iran's revolutionary guard warned a British oil tanker could be seized in retaliation. July 10: Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose drove off three Iranian vessels which tried to stop the commercial ship British Heritage. It is understood the tanker was making passage out of the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz when the ship was approached by the Iranian vessels. HMS Montrose was nearby and proceeded to come in between. Warnings were given but no shots were fired. The Iranian vessels then turned around and left. July 11: Police in Gibraltar said they had arrested the captain and chief officer of the Iranian supertanker Grace 1 in relation to suspected violations of EU sanctions on Syria. Two days later the force said the captain, chief officer and two second officers of the vessel had been conditionally bailed without charge. July 13: In a telephone call with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt offered to facilitate Grace 1's release in return for guarantees from Tehran that it would not breach EU sanctions on the Assad regime in Syria. July 15: Mr Hunt attended a Brussels meeting of EU foreign ministers on the issue of the Iran nuclear deal. Mr Hunt said there was a 'small window' of hope for preventing the international agreement, aimed at stopping Tehran gaining nuclear weapons, from unravelling. Both he and Tory leadership rival Boris Johnson later ruled out supporting Mr Trump should he pursue military action in the Gulf. July 16: Ali Khamenei called the seizure of the Grace 1 tanker 'piracy' and vowed to retaliate. He said: 'God willing, the Islamic Republic and its committed forces will not leave this evilness without a response.' July 17: US officials said they suspected Iran had seized a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker from the United Arab Emirates as it travelled through the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker had turned off its tracker three days before as it entered Iranian waters. Iran later said its Revolutionary Guard had seized a foreign oil tanker and its crew of 12 for smuggling fuel out of the country. July 18: Mr Trump said the USS Boxer had shot down an Iranian drone that came within 1,000 yards of the warship and ignored calls to stand down. Iranian military officials denied one of its drones had been lost in the Strait of Hormuz. July 19: Two oil tankers are reported to have been seized by Iranian authorities in the Persian Gulf. The Stena Impero, registered in the UK, was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the Strait of Hormuz for 'violating international maritime rules', the semi-official Fars news agency said. A second oil tanker, the Liberia-flagged Mesdar, managed by Glasgow-based firm Norbulk Shipping UK, appeared to veer off course towards the Iranian coast. The Mesdar's operator said the ship was boarded by armed guards but the crew were left 'safe and well' and allowed to continue their voyage. Jeremy Hunt called the ships' seizure 'unacceptable' and attended a meeting of the Government's emergency committee Cobra. Advertisement

The Royal Navy currently has HMS Montrose on patrol in the Persian Gulf