London sends letter to UN about its tanker seized by Iran

The UK Permanent Mission to the United Nations has submitted a letter to the UN Secretary-General and Security Council President with a "factual update" on the incident with the UK-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and called upon Tehran to release the vessel.

"Current tensions are extremely concerning, and our priority is to de-escalate. We do not seek confrontation with Iran. But it is unacceptable and highly escalatory to threaten shipping going about its legitimate business through internationally recognised transit corridors," UK Deputy Permanent Representative Jonathan Allen wrote in the letter, which he called a "factual update" on the incident.

"The impediment to the right to transit passage and seizure of the STENA IMPERO is contrary to international law. We call on Iran to release the STENA IMPERO, and are working to resolve the situation through diplomatic means," Sputnik cited the letter as saying.

Allen added that the tanker was seized in the Omani territorial waters.