British Prime Minister Theresa May chaired an emergency meeting of ministers and security officials on Monday to discuss how to respond after Iran seized a UK-flagged tanker in the Gulf.

Iran on Sunday urged Britain to contain "domestic political forces" intent on escalating tensions between the two countries following Iran's seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker.

London wants to de-escalate tensions with Tehran, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Saturday following a meeting of the UK's emergencies committee over Iran's seizure of a British-flagged ship in the Gulf.

European powers urged Iran on Saturday to release a British-flagged tanker it seized in the Strait of Hormuz in what Britain called a "dangerous" move, warning its ships to avoid the strategic waterway.

India said Saturday it was in touch with Tehran to secure the release of 18 of its nationals serving on a British-flagged tanker seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.

London Saturday advised British ships to avoid the Strait of Hormuz for "an interim period" following Iran's seizure of a British-flagged oil tanker.

The detained British-flagged tanker Stena Impero was in an accident with an Iranian fishing boat and ignored its distress call, Iran's Fars news agency reported on Saturday, quoting an official.

Iran on Friday categorically denied US President Donald Trump's claims that Washington brought down an Iranian drone, saying all its craft are accounted for and jesting that American forces

Iran said on Thursday it had seized a foreign tanker smuggling fuel in the Gulf, and the US military commander in the region said the United States would work

Aboard USS Boxer, Arabian Sea: At a thumbs-up sign from a sailor, a US Harrier fighter jet takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer in the Arabian Sea as an oil tanker passes, a nautical mile away.

US President Donald Trump said yesterday "a lot of progress" had been made towards ending a volatile stand-off with Iran, with his top diplomat saying Tehran had signalled willingness to negotiate over its disputed ballistic missile programme.

Iran's supreme leader upped the ante in a volatile stand-off with the United States on Tuesday, warning Tehran would continue removing restraints on its nuclear programme