All 23 crew of seized British-operated tanker are 'safe and in good health': Iranian TV

WION Web Team

New Delhi Updated: Jul 21, 2019, 12:55 PM IST

Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops wearing ski masks are seen on board a helicopter flying over British-flagged tanker Stena Impero near the strait of Hormuz July 19, 2019, in this still image taken from video. Picture taken July 19, 2019. Photograph:(Reuters)

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Britain has denounced Iran's seizure of the oil tanker in the Gulf on Friday as a "hostile act".

Iran state TV on Sunday reported that all 23 crew members of the seized British-flagged Stena Impero tanker were "safe and in good health".

The head of the Ports and Maritime Organisation of Iran in Hormozgan Province Allahmorad Afifipour told state TV, "All the 23 crew members are aboard the ship are safe and in good health in Bandar Abbas port,"

Britain has denounced Iran's seizure of the oil tanker in the Gulf on Friday as a "hostile act".

British Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt called the incident a "hostile act" while Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he had expressed "extreme disappointment" by phone to his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif. Britain also summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires in London.

Britain rejected Tehran's explanation that it had seized the vessel because it had been involved in an accident.

18 among the 23 seafarers onboard the UK-flagged tanker are from India and government of India has sought their early release and repatriation.