Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seizes British-flagged, Liberian-flagged tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Iran's paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps have seized a British-flagged and a Liberian-flagged oil tanker traveling through the Straight of Hormuz on Thursday, Britain's foreign secretary said, in what appeared to be a significant new escalation between Tehran and Western countries.

Late Friday, a management company for the Liberian tanker, Mesdar announced in a statement that "the armed guards have left and the vessel is free to continue the voyage. All crew are safe and well."

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said in a statement he was "extremely concerned by the seizure of two naval vessels by Iranian authorities."

Iran's State TV said on Saturday that the British tanker was seized after it collided with a fishing vessel and ignored calls from the smaller craft.