FILE PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the death anniversary of the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in Tehran, Iran, June 4, 2017. TIMA via REUTERS

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Tuesday Iran would respond to Britain’s “piracy” over the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar.

Iran has called on Britain to immediately release the oil tanker, which was seized by British Royal Marines on suspicion it was breaking European sanctions by taking oil to Syria.

“Evil Britain commits piracy and steals our ship ... and gives it a legal appearance. Iran and those who believe in our system will not leave such evil deeds unanswered,” Khamenei said in remarks broadcast on television.