IRGC Releases Video of Operation to Capture Stena Impero in Strait of Hormuz (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps on Saturday released video of the operation to capture British-flagged oil tanker, Stena Impero.
The video shows the IRGC navy special forces are boarding the tanker using a Mi-17 chopper.
According to Head of the IRGC Public Relations Department General Ramezan Sharif, a British warship was escorting the tanker in time of operation.
The IRGC’s Public Relations Department said in a statement on Friday that the vessel named “Stena Impero” had been impounded “at the request of Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Organization when passing through the Strait of Hormuz, for failing to respect international maritime rules.”
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also said the country’s military forces captured the British-flagged oil tanker to “uphold international maritime rules”.
The vessel had switched off its GPS locator, in contravention of international regulations, and was sailing into the strait in a wrong traffic pattern.
It was entering the strait from the southern route, which is an exit path, increasing the risk of an accident
Moreover, Stena Impero had not heeded any of the warnings from the Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization.
An informed source said the UK oil tanker was also polluting the Persian Gulf water heavily by dumping crude oil residue.