Iranian forces warned a British warship’s crew against putting their “life in danger” during the seizure of a tanker this month, in a new recording of the incident released Monday.
The audio message was accompanied by aerial video footage of a warship thought to be the HMS Montrose, which the UK defense ministry says has now been joined in Gulf waters by another warship, the HMS Duncan...
“British warship Foxtrot 236, this is Sepah navy patrol boat: you are required not to interfere in this issue,” an Iranian naval officer can be heard saying in the recording aired on state TV.
An officer on board the warship responds: “This is British warship Foxtrot 236: I am in vicinity of an internationally recognized strait with a merchant vessel in my vicinity conducting transit passage.”
The Iranian officer replies: “British warship Foxtrot 236, this is Sepah navy patrol boat: don’t put your life in danger.”
Iranian state television also released recordings of another incident on July 10.
“This is British warship Foxtrot 236, go ahead,” a British naval officer can be heard saying.
His Iranian counterpart responds by saying: “British warship Foxtrot 236, this is Sepah navy warship… your tanker British Heritage under my control. You are ordered do not to interference in my operation.”