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IRAN

Britain Says It Won't 'Barter' With Iran Over

Seized Tankers
Last updated (GMT/UTC): July 29, 2019 10:25 GMT

A picture taken on July 21 shows the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero

anchored o the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas.

Britain has rejected the idea that it could release an Iranian tanker in
exchange for a British-flagged vessel seized by Iran in the Persian Gulf.

"There is no quid pro quo," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the
BBC on July 29. "This is not about some kind of barter. This is about the
international law and the rules of the international legal system being
upheld and that is what we will insist on."

Tensions have soared since the United States withdrew from the 2015
nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers last year and reimposed
sanctions.
In recent weeks, Iran and Britain have seized a tanker each, putting
further pressure on the agreement.

Speaking to Sky News, Raab said that if Iran wants to "come of the dark
and be accepted as a responsible member of the international
community" it must follow international rules.

"You cannot go about detaining unlawfully foreign vessels," he said.

Raab's comments come after a second Royal Navy warship arrived in

the Gulf to protect British ships.

The Grace 1 is seen o the coast of Gibraltar on July 6.

The HMS Duncan destroyer joined the frigate HMS Montrose on July 28
to escort vessels sailing under the British flag through the Strait of
Hormuz, a key shipping line that connects the Gulf and the Arabian Sea.

"Merchant ships must be free to travel lawfully and trade safely,

anywhere in the world," Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said. "While we
continue to push for a diplomatic resolution that will make this
possible again without military accompaniment, the Royal Navy will
continue to provide a safeguard for U.K. vessels until this is the reality.”
Meanwhile, Iranian government spokesman Ali Rabiei said that
Britain’s proposal for a European-led maritime mission to escort
tankers in the area is “provocative” and “carries a hostile message.”

"The presence of foreign forces will not help the region's security and
will be the main source of tensions," according to President Hassan
Rohani.

On July 4, British authorities seized the Iranian tanker Grace 1 o the

overseas territory of Gibraltar over allegations that it was in violation of
European Union sanctions on Syria.

In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on July

19 seized the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero in the key
shipping route.

Rohani has indicated the ship could be released if Britain returns the
Grace 1.

Tehran said the Stena Impero was "violating international maritime

rules," while then-British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt called the
seizure of the vessel "state piracy."

The tanker's Swedish owners, Stena Bulk, have said the 23 crew
members, who included Russians, Latvians, Indians, and Filipinos,
were in good health.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and the BBC

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