A "bold" mission to seize an Iranian super tanker taking crude oil to Syria was carried out by a team of Royal Marines who rappelled onto the ship from a helicopter.

Backed by other troops from 42 Commando on inflatable speedboats, the operation off the coast of Gibraltar was carried out with no shots fired.

About 16 Royal Gibraltar Police officers were also involved in the mission following suspicions the tanker, named Grace 1, was breaching EU sanctions.

Image: The ship was boarded by Royal Marines and Gibraltarian authorities

Thirty marines were flown out to lead the mission at the request of the Gibraltar police.

Mapping data shows the tanker had sailed from Iran. If the oil on board is confirmed to be Iranian, the tanker would also be violating a US ban on Iranian oil exports.


Iran has now summoned the British ambassador in Tehran over what it says is the "illegal seizure" of the tanker, Iranian state TV said, quoting foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi.

This comes amid an escalating confrontation between Iran and the US over an unravelling nuclear agreement and Iranian threats to continue enriching uranium over the maximum level allowed under the deal.

Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo said: "We have reason to believe that the Grace 1 was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas Refinery in Syria.

"That refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria.

"I want to thank the brave men and women of the Royal Marines, the Royal Gibraltar Police, Her Majesty's Customs Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Port Authority for their work in securing the detention of this vessel and its cargo.

"Be assured that Gibraltar remains safe, secure and committed to the international, rules-based, legal order."

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations to Gibraltar & @RoyalMarines for this bold move to enforce Syria sanctions.

"Their swift action has denied valuable resources to Assad's murderous regime."

However, Mr Hunt's counterpart in Spain, Josep Borrell, said it was looking into the seizure of the ship as it appears to have happened in Spanish waters.

US national security adviser John Bolton tweeted that the ship's seizure was "excellent news".

He added: "America & our allies will continue to prevent regimes in Tehran & Damascus from profiting off this illicit trade."

Image: Grace 1 is believed to have been bound for Syria

European Union sanctions against the government of Syria took effect in May 2011, shortly after the start of President Bashar al Assad's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators that has led to the country's protracted civil war.

Iran, a close ally of Assad, is also under a US sanctions regime meant to bar all international sales of Iranian oil.

It was imposed after US President Donald Trump withdrew Washington last year from a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.