Here are the top ten developments:
1. There are Indian nationals among the 23 people who are onboard the British tanker, company owner Stena Bulk has said. The company also said that the vessel is no longer under the control of the crew after it was approached by unidentified vessels and a helicopter in international waters. “There have been no reported injuries and the safety and welfare of our crew remain our primary focus,” Stena Bulk said in a statement.
2. Hours later, US official said that Iran has also seized a second tanker, the Liberian-flagged MV Masdar. However, Masdar was allowed to carry its course after Iranian officials followed up with the ship on its environmental regulations and it’s no longer in the Iranian waters.”All crew are safe and well,” Mesdar’s manager, Norbulk Shipping UK, said in a statement confirming that the ship had been released.”Communication has been re-established with the vessel and Master confirmed that the armed guards have left and the vessel is free to continue the voyage,” it said.
3. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps accused the oil tanker of “violating international regulations”. Meanwhile, UK’s Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt called the seizure “unacceptable” and said “it is essential that freedom of navigation is maintained and that all ships can move safely and freely in the region.”
4. “These seizures are unacceptable,” Hunt said as he prepared to enter an emergency government meeting Friday night. “It is essential that freedom of navigation is maintained and that all ships can move safely and freely in the region.””We’re not looking at military options, we’re looking at a diplomatic way to resolve the situation, but we are very clear that it must be resolved,” Hunt later told Sky News, warning that if the situation is not resolved quickly “there will be serious consequences.”
5. The ongoing showdown has caused jitters around the globe, with each maneuver bringing fear that any misunderstanding or misstep by either side could lead to war.
6. President Donald Trump said US officials would talk with Britain about the unfolding crisis.”This only goes to show what I’m saying about Iran: Trouble, nothing but trouble,” he said. He also noted the “US has very few tankers going in because we’re using a lot of our own energy,” but said the American presence in the region was still robust.
Global News 
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