War Drums: Iran says they have confiscated a British tanker in Strait of Hormuz

• The Stena Impero was seized in the Strait of Hormuz at 4pm BST by Iran
• The British-registered tanker was ordered to turn to the north by Iranian forces
• The tanker was heading towards the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia 
• UK Officials said they lost contact with the 23 crew following the incident 

Iran has seized a British-registered oil tanker with 23 crew in the Strait of Hormuz. 

The Stena Impero was passing through the bottle neck into the Persian Gulf when it turned dramatically to the north at 4pm, UK time. 

The vessel was surrounded by heavily-armed small craft and a helicopter and ordered to turn north.  

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The Stena Impero oil tanker has been seized by Iranian authorities while passing through the Strait of Hormuz this evening

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The Stena Impero was surrounded by Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces at 16:00 BST and ordered to head north. The British registered vessel switched off its maritime tracker a short time later

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The British-flagged vessel turned dramatically to the north when heading through the bottle neck