A US official revealed on Wednesday that three armed Iranian boats had tried to hijack British oil tanker in the Persian Gulf.
Boats from the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps approached the British Heritage tanker trying to divert it to Iranian waters from the international waters.
This incidence was recorded by a US aircraft. However, their mission was unsuccessful as a British Navy ship HMS Montrose moved in before they Iranians could move the tanker towards their territorial waters.
The British Navy ship sounded a warning to the Iranians who retreated.
The UK's Royal Navy frigate HMS Montrose, which is equipped with 30 mm guns, meant for small boats escorted the tanker, which was not carrying any cargo at the time of the incidence.
UK's Ministry of Defense condemned this incidence stating that Iranian vessels had breached the international laws.
"HMS Montrose was forced to position herself between the Iranian vessels and British Heritage and issue verbal warnings to the Iranian vessels, which then turned away," the statement said.
"We are concerned by this action and continue to urge the Iranian authorities to de-escalate the situation in the region," UK's Ministry of Defense added.
However, according to the semi-official Fars news agency, Iran's Revolutionary Guard came out denying that they tried to stop the tanker from passing.
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