Iran Press/ Europe: Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn blamed US president Donald Trump for ‘fuelling confrontation’ with Iran after a UK oil tanker was impounded.
According to the Independent newspaper, calling for the release of the British-flagged oil tanker seized by Iran's IRGC on Friday, Corbyn blamed Donald Trump for escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf.
"The UK tanker under Iranian control and its crew must be released. Escalation risks a deeper conflict; all sides must show restraint." the Labour leader tweeted.
"Trump tearing up the Iran nuclear deal has fuelled confrontation. Its negotiated reinstatement is essential to defuse the threat of war in the [Persian] Gulf," he added.
On 19 July, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the British oil tanker 'Stena Impero' has been impounded near the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif confirmed the seized British tanker tried to enter the Strait of Hormuz with its communications transponders switched off -- contrary to maritime rules and regulations.
He said on Saturday that there was a real danger the oil tanker might have collided with ships and tankers moving in the opposite direction.
According to the IRGC spokesman, Iran had no choice but to impound the tanker, for safety reasons, and also because the oil tanker failed to respond to repeated warnings and messages sent to it by the IRGC navy.
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Read more:
New video of seizure of Stena Impero tanker
Iran reveals safety issues which led to impounding of British oil tanker
