Armed Iranian boats attempted to seize British oil tanker in Persian Gulf: reports

Boats believed to belong to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps failed to seize a British oil tanker in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday, according to reports. 

U.S. officials with knowledge of the incident told CNN the British Heritage tanker was approached by five armed Iranian boats while sailing out of the Persian Gulf and crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranians told the tanker to change course and stop in nearby Iranian territorial waters, CNN reports. 

An overhead U.S. aircraft recorded video of the incident, according to CNN.{mosads}

The Hill reached out to the U.S. Department of Defense for comment. 

Britain’s Ministry of Defense had no immediate comment to Reuters, which reported a U.S. defense official also confirmed the incident. 

The attempt follows a warning issued from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani earlier in the day that the U.K. will see “consequences” after U.K. Royal Marines and Gibraltar officials reportedly seized an Iranian oil tanker allegedly bound for Syria. 

“You [Britain] are the initiator of insecurity and you will realize the consequences later,” Rouhani said, according to a Reuters report. 

CNN reports U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said Tuesday the U.S. and its allies were working to put together a coalition to create a system enforcing freedom of navigation in the region.