Tehran fumes as Britain seizes Iranian oil tanker over Syria sanctions

The Grace 1 tanker was impounded in the British territory on the southern tip of Spain. [Courtesy]

British Royal Marines seized a giant Iranian oil tanker in Gibraltar on Thursday for trying to take oil to Syria in violation of EU sanctions, a dramatic step that drew Tehran’s fury and could escalate its confrontation with the West.

Grace 1 was impounded in the British territory on the southern tip of Spain after sailing around Africa, the long route from the Middle East to the mouth of the Mediterranean.