(Xinhua)10:30, July 13, 2019
TEHRAN, July 11 (Xinhua) — Irans Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) denied that its naval forces intended to stop a British oil tanker in the countrys southern waters on Thursday, Iranian state TV reported.
The IRGCs Navy vessels carry out their regular patrolling missions in the Gulf with vigilance, precision and strength, the IRGC Navys Fifth Naval Zone said in a statement.
In the past 24 hours, there has been no encounter with foreign ships, including British ones, the statement was quoted as reading by Press TV.
Earlier on Thursday, Britains Ministry of Defence said that Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker near the Gulf, before being driven off by a Royal Navy ship.
Following the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker, allegedly heading to Syria, by British Royal Marines in the Strait of Gibraltar last week, Iran warned Britain of the consequences.