An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander threatened on Friday to seize a British ship in retaliation for the capture of an Iranian supertanker by Royal Marines in Gibraltar.

"If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, it is the authorities' duty to seize a British oil tanker," Mohsen Rezai said on Twitter.

The Gibraltar government said the crew on board the supertanker Grace 1 were being interviewed as witnesses, not criminal suspects, in an effort to establish the nature of the cargo and its ultimate destination.

British Royal Marines abseiled onto the ship off the coast of the British territory on Thursday and seized it over accusations it was breaking sanctions by taking oil to Syria. They landed a helicopter on the moving vessel in pitch darkness.

The move escalates a confrontation between Iran and the West just weeks after the United States called off air strikes minutes before impact, and draws Washington's close ally into a crisis in which European powers had striven to appear neutral.

Tehran summoned the British ambassador on Thursday to voice "its very strong objection to the illegal and unacceptable seizure" of its ship, a move that also eliminated doubt about the ownership of the vessel.

Thin line

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said the crude oil cargo was from Iran. The ship's paperwork had said the oil was from neighbouring Iraq, but tracking data reviewed by Reuters suggested it had loaded at an Iranian port.

European countries have walked a thin line since last year when the United States ignored their pleas and pulled out of a pact between Iran and world powers that gave Tehran access to global trade in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Over the past two months, Washington has sharply tightened sanctions against Tehran with the aim of halting its oil exports altogether. The moves have largely driven Iran from mainstream markets and forced it to find unconventional ways to sell crude.

The confrontation has taken on a military dimension in recent weeks, with Washington accusing Iran of attacking ships in the Gulf and Iran shooting down a U.S. drone. President Donald Trump ordered, then cancelled, retaliatory strikes.

With nuclear diplomacy at the heart of the crisis, Iran announced this week it had amassed more fissile material than allowed under its deal, and said it would purify uranium to a higher degree than permitted from July 7.

The Grace 1 was impounded in the British territory on the southern tip of Spain after sailing the long way around Africa from the Middle East to the mouth of the Mediterranean, a route that demonstrates the unusual steps Iran appears to be taking to try to keep some exports flowing.

"Warning the Iranians"

The Gibraltar spokesman said the 28-member crew, who have remained on board the supertanker, were mainly Indians with some Pakistanis and Ukrainians. Police and customs officials remained on board the vessel to carry out their investigation, but the Royal Marines were no longer present.

While the European Union has not followed the United States in imposing broad sanctions against Iran, it has had measures in place since 2011 that prohibit sales of oil to Syria.

Gibraltar said on Friday it had obtained an order extending the detention of the supertanker by 14 days because there were grounds to believe it was breaking sanctions by taking crude oil to Syria.

Shipping experts say it may have been avoiding the more direct route through the Suez Canal, where a big tanker would typically be required to unload part of its cargo into a pipeline to cross, potentially exposing it to seizure.

Olivier Dorgans, an economic sanctions expert at Hughes Hubbard &amp; Reed law firm in Paris, said the British move appeared intended to send a warning to the Iranians that if they pushed on with their nuclear breaches, European countries would act:

"This was done for political effect. The British are warning the Iranians."

An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander threatened on Friday to seize a British ship in retaliation for the capture of an Iranian supertanker by Royal Marines in Gibraltar.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander threatened on Friday to seize a British ship in retaliation for the capture of an Iranian supertanker by Royal Marines in Gibraltar. "If Britain does not release the Iranian oil tanker, it is the authorities' duty to seize a British oil tanker," Mohsen Rezai said on Twitter. The Gibraltar government said the crew on board the supertanker Grace 1 were being interviewed as witnesses, not criminal suspects, in an effort to establish the nature of the cargo and its ultimate destination. British Royal Marines abseiled onto the ship off the coast of the British territory on Thursday and seized it over accusations it was breaking sanctions by taking oil to Syria. They landed a helicopter on the moving vessel in pitch darkness. The move escalates a confrontation between Iran and the West just weeks after the United States called off air strikes minutes before impact, and draws Washington's close ally into a crisis in which European powers had striven to appear neutral. Tehran summoned the British ambassador on Thursday to voice "its very strong objection to the illegal and unacceptable seizure" of its ship, a move that also eliminated doubt about the ownership of the vessel. Thin line Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said the crude oil cargo was from Iran. The ship's paperwork had said the oil was from neighbouring Iraq, but tracking data reviewed by Reuters suggested it had loaded at an Iranian port. European countries have walked a thin line since last year when the United States ignored their pleas and pulled out of a pact between Iran and world powers that gave Tehran access to global trade in return for curbs on its nuclear programme. Over the past two months, Washington has sharply tightened sanctions against Tehran with the aim of halting its oil exports altogether. The moves have largely driven Iran from mainstream markets and forced it to find unconventional ways to sell crude. The confrontation has taken on a military dimension in recent weeks, with Washington accusing Iran of attacking ships in the Gulf and Iran shooting down a U.S. drone. President Donald Trump ordered, then cancelled, retaliatory strikes. With nuclear diplomacy at the heart of the crisis, Iran announced this week it had amassed more fissile material than allowed under its deal, and said it would purify uranium to a higher degree than permitted from July 7. The Grace 1 was impounded in the British territory on the southern tip of Spain after sailing the long way around Africa from the Middle East to the mouth of the Mediterranean, a route that demonstrates the unusual steps Iran appears to be taking to try to keep some exports flowing. "Warning the Iranians" The Gibraltar spokesman said the 28-member crew, who have remained on board the supertanker, were mainly Indians with some Pakistanis and Ukrainians. Police and customs officials remained on board the vessel to carry out their investigation, but the Royal Marines were no longer present. While the European Union has not followed the United States in imposing broad sanctions against Iran, it has had measures in place since 2011 that prohibit sales of oil to Syria. Gibraltar said on Friday it had obtained an order extending the detention of the supertanker by 14 days because there were grounds to believe it was breaking sanctions by taking crude oil to Syria. Shipping experts say it may have been avoiding the more direct route through the Suez Canal, where a big tanker would typically be required to unload part of its cargo into a pipeline to cross, potentially exposing it to seizure. Olivier Dorgans, an economic sanctions expert at Hughes Hubbard & Reed law firm in Paris, said the British move appeared intended to send a warning to the Iranians that if they pushed on with their nuclear breaches, European countries would act: "This was done for political effect. The British are warning the Iranians."

Iran threatens British shipping in retaliation for tanker seizure

Iran on Thursday condemned the "illegal interception" of one of its oil tankers in Gibraltar where authorities said they suspected it was carrying crude to Syria in violation of EU sanctions.

The detention of the 330 metre (1,000 feet) Grace 1 vessel comes at a sensitive time in Iran-EU ties as the bloc mulls how to respond to Tehran announcing it will breach the maximum uranium enrichment level it agreed in a 2015 nuclear deal.

The tanker was halted in the early hours of Thursday by police and customs agencies in Gibraltar, a tiny overseas British territory on Spain's southern tip.

They were aided by a detachment of British Royal Marines.

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The ship was detained 2.5 miles (four kilometres) south of Gibraltar in what it considers British waters, although Spain, which lays claim to the territory, says they are Spanish.&nbsp;

It was boarded when it slowed down in a designated area used by shipping agencies to ferry goods to vessels.

"We have reason to believe that the 'Grace 1' was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas Refinery in Syria," Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said in a statement.

"That refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria.

"We have detained the vessel and its cargo," Picardo said.

Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell told reporters the vessel was detained at the request of the United States.

Picardo said he had "written this morning to the Presidents of the European Commission and Council, setting out the details of the sanctions which we have enforced".

In a statement, Britain's foreign office said "we welcome this firm action by the Gibraltarian authorities, acting to enforce the EU Syria Sanctions regime".

EU notified&nbsp;

European Union sanctions against war-torn Syria have been in force since late 2011.

The 28-member bloc has imposed sanctions on Syrian officials including government ministers over their role in the "violent repression" of civilians.

It has frozen the assets of around 70 entities and introduced an embargo on Syrian oil, investment restrictions and a freeze on Syrian central bank assets within the European Union.

According to specialised shipping trade publication Lloyd's List, which analysed vessel-tracking data, the 1997-built ship is laden with Iranian oil, the first such tanker to head for Europe since late 2018.

It reported that the ship loaded oil off Iran in April and sailed around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

The tanker detention comes just days after Iran announced it would exceed the uranium enrichment limit set up as part of the 2015 deal to avoid it building up to the level required for a nuclear warhead.

Iran did this in response to Washington abandoning the nuclear deal last year and hitting Iran's crucial oil exports and financial transactions with biting sanctions.

Iran on Thursday condemned the "illegal interception" of one of its oil tankers in Gibraltar where authorities said they suspected it was carrying crude to Syria in violation of EU sanctions.

Iran on Thursday condemned the "illegal interception" of one of its oil tankers in Gibraltar where authorities said they suspected it was carrying crude to Syria in violation of EU sanctions. The detention of the 330 metre (1,000 feet) Grace 1 vessel comes at a sensitive time in Iran-EU ties as the bloc mulls how to respond to Tehran announcing it will breach the maximum uranium enrichment level it agreed in a 2015 nuclear deal. The tanker was halted in the early hours of Thursday by police and customs agencies in Gibraltar, a tiny overseas British territory on Spain's southern tip. They were aided by a detachment of British Royal Marines. × The ship was detained 2.5 miles (four kilometres) south of Gibraltar in what it considers British waters, although Spain, which lays claim to the territory, says they are Spanish. It was boarded when it slowed down in a designated area used by shipping agencies to ferry goods to vessels. "We have reason to believe that the 'Grace 1' was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas Refinery in Syria," Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said in a statement. "That refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria. "We have detained the vessel and its cargo," Picardo said. Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell told reporters the vessel was detained at the request of the United States. Picardo said he had "written this morning to the Presidents of the European Commission and Council, setting out the details of the sanctions which we have enforced". In a statement, Britain's foreign office said "we welcome this firm action by the Gibraltarian authorities, acting to enforce the EU Syria Sanctions regime". EU notified European Union sanctions against war-torn Syria have been in force since late 2011. The 28-member bloc has imposed sanctions on Syrian officials including government ministers over their role in the "violent repression" of civilians. It has frozen the assets of around 70 entities and introduced an embargo on Syrian oil, investment restrictions and a freeze on Syrian central bank assets within the European Union. According to specialised shipping trade publication Lloyd's List, which analysed vessel-tracking data, the 1997-built ship is laden with Iranian oil, the first such tanker to head for Europe since late 2018. It reported that the ship loaded oil off Iran in April and sailed around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The tanker detention comes just days after Iran announced it would exceed the uranium enrichment limit set up as part of the 2015 deal to avoid it building up to the level required for a nuclear warhead. Iran did this in response to Washington abandoning the nuclear deal last year and hitting Iran's crucial oil exports and financial transactions with biting sanctions.

Iran condemns detention of ship, suspected of taking oil to Syria, in Gibraltar

Britain on Friday unveiled four agreements signed with Spain as part of the Brexit withdrawal deal that provides for unprecedented cooperation between Madrid and Gibraltar.

The memoranda of understanding outline cooperation in the fields of tobacco smuggling, policing, workers' rights and the environment, setting up joint committees that will meet to exchange information.

This only applies to the transition period until the United Kingdom actually leaves the European Union, but nevertheless represents a boost in relations between Spain and Gibraltar, a British overseas territory long claimed by Madrid.

"The memoranda reflect our shared desire to work together in a spirit of trust and solidarity," the British government said in a statement.

They do not, however, touch on the thorny issue of sovereignty.

Spain has a long-standing claim on Gibraltar, a small rocky outcrop on Spain's southern tip that it ceded to the British crown in 1713.

Gibraltar, however, wants to maintain its ties with the United Kingdom.

Relations between Spain and Gibraltar have long been strained and this has been reflected in the small land border between the two.

In one particularly belligerent row over disputed waters, Spanish authorities upped border checks in 2013, creating hours-long logjams and forcing the European Commission to intervene and ease the crisis.

But Brexit forced the governments of Spain, Gibraltar and Britain to the negotiating table on many long-standing issues.

Under the accords, Gibraltar has agreed to increase the price of tobacco products in an effort to attack contraband trade.

Prices are currently between 25 and 48 per cent lower than in Spain, depending on the products, according to the government of Gibraltar.

The deal says that "by June 30, 2020, the average retail price differential of tobacco products will be no more than 32 per cent greater than the most recently published Spanish prices for the equivalent tobacco products."

Another memorandum sets up a joint Spain-Gibraltar committee for police and customs cooperation, another for workers' rights and another on environmental issues, with each side having an equal number of members.

Britain on Friday unveiled four agreements signed with Spain as part of the Brexit withdrawal deal that provides for unprecedented cooperation between Madrid and Gibraltar.

Britain on Friday unveiled four agreements signed with Spain as part of the Brexit withdrawal deal that provides for unprecedented cooperation between Madrid and Gibraltar. The memoranda of understanding outline cooperation in the fields of tobacco smuggling, policing, workers' rights and the environment, setting up joint committees that will meet to exchange information. This only applies to the transition period until the United Kingdom actually leaves the European Union, but nevertheless represents a boost in relations between Spain and Gibraltar, a British overseas territory long claimed by Madrid. "The memoranda reflect our shared desire to work together in a spirit of trust and solidarity," the British government said in a statement. They do not, however, touch on the thorny issue of sovereignty. Spain has a long-standing claim on Gibraltar, a small rocky outcrop on Spain's southern tip that it ceded to the British crown in 1713. Gibraltar, however, wants to maintain its ties with the United Kingdom. Relations between Spain and Gibraltar have long been strained and this has been reflected in the small land border between the two. In one particularly belligerent row over disputed waters, Spanish authorities upped border checks in 2013, creating hours-long logjams and forcing the European Commission to intervene and ease the crisis. But Brexit forced the governments of Spain, Gibraltar and Britain to the negotiating table on many long-standing issues. Under the accords, Gibraltar has agreed to increase the price of tobacco products in an effort to attack contraband trade. Prices are currently between 25 and 48 per cent lower than in Spain, depending on the products, according to the government of Gibraltar. The deal says that "by June 30, 2020, the average retail price differential of tobacco products will be no more than 32 per cent greater than the most recently published Spanish prices for the equivalent tobacco products." Another memorandum sets up a joint Spain-Gibraltar committee for police and customs cooperation, another for workers' rights and another on environmental issues, with each side having an equal number of members.

Brexit deals bring Spain, Gibraltar closer together

An 11th-hour deal on Saturday to answer Spanish demands for a big say on Gibraltar after Britain leaves the EU has salvaged an EU summit which will now go ahead as planned on Sunday to deliver a Brexit accord.

With British Prime Minister Theresa May due to meet EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker and summit chair Donald Tusk at 6 pm (1700 GMT) and 7:15 pm respectively, Tusk secured a deal with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who had been threatening to scupper the consensus by staying away on Sunday.

"After the phone call between (Tusk) and (Sanchez) a few minutes ago, we are closer to tomorrow`s (European Council)," Tusk`s spokesman Preben Aamann said on Twitter.

The British government released a letter from the British ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow to the head of Tusk`s secretariat spelling out that Britain would make no presumption that any future EU-UK trade pact would apply to Gibraltar.

Sanchez was due to make a statement in Madrid at 3 pm (1400 GMT) to outline the agreement, diplomats said, after British and Spanish negotiators talked through the night with EU officials trying to broker a deal that would reassure Madrid on how the Brexit treaties would apply to Gibraltar and give it a clear say on their application -- without reopening the texts.

Those assurances should form part of a brief statement agreed by the 27 EU leaders and added to the minutes of Sunday morning`s hour-long meeting before the 27 meet May at 11 am.

"Negotiations went on through the night with Spain and Britain," one diplomatic source said. "In a telephone conversation just now, Tusk and Sanchez reached an agreement on Gibraltar. The summit will go ahead."

Many Brussels insiders view Sanchez`s gambit as summit grandstanding for domestic purposes -- he faces a regional election next weekend in Andalusia, the province to which Spaniards argue Britain`s 300-year-old naval base and 30,000 citizens on the rock of Gibraltar rightly belong.

The biggest obstacle to the Brexit accord overall is the vehement opposition in the British parliament. Without its approval, Britain could leave the bloc on March 29 without an agreement to mitigate economic and legal disruption.

An 11th-hour deal on Saturday to answer Spanish demands for a big say on Gibraltar after Britain leaves the EU has salvaged an EU summit which will now go ahead as planned on Sunday to deliver a Brexit accord.

An 11th-hour deal on Saturday to answer Spanish demands for a big say on Gibraltar after Britain leaves the EU has salvaged an EU summit which will now go ahead as planned on Sunday to deliver a Brexit accord. With British Prime Minister Theresa May due to meet EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker and summit chair Donald Tusk at 6 pm (1700 GMT) and 7:15 pm respectively, Tusk secured a deal with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who had been threatening to scupper the consensus by staying away on Sunday. "After the phone call between (Tusk) and (Sanchez) a few minutes ago, we are closer to tomorrow`s (European Council)," Tusk`s spokesman Preben Aamann said on Twitter. The British government released a letter from the British ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow to the head of Tusk`s secretariat spelling out that Britain would make no presumption that any future EU-UK trade pact would apply to Gibraltar. Sanchez was due to make a statement in Madrid at 3 pm (1400 GMT) to outline the agreement, diplomats said, after British and Spanish negotiators talked through the night with EU officials trying to broker a deal that would reassure Madrid on how the Brexit treaties would apply to Gibraltar and give it a clear say on their application -- without reopening the texts. Those assurances should form part of a brief statement agreed by the 27 EU leaders and added to the minutes of Sunday morning`s hour-long meeting before the 27 meet May at 11 am. "Negotiations went on through the night with Spain and Britain," one diplomatic source said. "In a telephone conversation just now, Tusk and Sanchez reached an agreement on Gibraltar. The summit will go ahead." Many Brussels insiders view Sanchez`s gambit as summit grandstanding for domestic purposes -- he faces a regional election next weekend in Andalusia, the province to which Spaniards argue Britain`s 300-year-old naval base and 30,000 citizens on the rock of Gibraltar rightly belong. The biggest obstacle to the Brexit accord overall is the vehement opposition in the British parliament. Without its approval, Britain could leave the bloc on March 29 without an agreement to mitigate economic and legal disruption.

Gibraltar deal clears way for Sunday Brexit summit