UPDATE- Iran warns UK of 'repercussions' over tanker seizure

ADDS BACKGROUND

TEHRAN (AA) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday the U.K. will face “repercussions” for seizing an Iranian oil tanker in the Gibraltar last week.

"I warn Britain that you are the initiator of insecurity in seas and you will later understand its repercussions,” Rouhani said in statements cited by local media.

The British government said the oil tanker was believed to be carrying two million barrels of crude oil to Syria, in breach of EU sanctions against the Bashar al-Assad regime.

"The enemy is looking for creating insecurity in the region so it violated Iran’s airspace and of course, faced a firm response. And on the other hand, they seized Iranian oil tanker by a proxy which was a very wrong action,” Rouhani said.

"British forces seized this vessel unjustly in the Gibraltar," he said.

Iran has denounced the ship seizure as "piracy" and summoned the British envoy in Tehran to protest the action, denying claims that the tanker was bound to Syria.

On Tuesday, Tehran vowed to respond to the seizure of the oil tanker "at an appropriate time and place".