An Iranian official has said a British oil tanker should be seized if a detained Iranian ship is not released.
British Royal Marines helped officials in Gibraltar to seize the super-tanker Grace 1 on Thursday, after it was suspected of carrying oil from Iran to Syria, in breach of EU sanctions.
Iran later summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to complain about what it said was a “form of piracy”.
Mohsen Rezaei said Iran would respond to bullies “without hesitation”.
Rezaei – a member of a council that advises the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei – said, in a tweet: “If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, it is the authorities’ duty to seize a British oil tanker.”
