Tehran/London, July 21 (TIWN) Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has seized a British-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the UK to warn Tehran of "serious consequences" if it did not release the ship, making it the latest confrontation in the increasingly tense standoff in the important shipping route.

Iranian media reported Saturday the ship, the Stena Impero, was captured by the country's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following an accident with a fishing boat. Earlier the IRGC said the ship was being held for "violating international regulations." A second ship, the Liberian-flagged MV Mesdar, was briefly held by Iran but then released, United States officials and the company that owns the ship said. Iran said the vessel was not seized, just "shortly stopped and briefed by Iranian authorities," Press TV reported citing unnamed Iranian military sources.