Iranian Boats Unsuccessfully Try to Seize British Tanker in the Gulf: US Official

British warship, Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose performs a series of tight turns during exercise Marstrike 05 off the coast of Oman March 22, 2005. Mick Storey/Royal Navy/Handout via Reuters

WASHINGTON—Five boats believed to belong to Iranian Revolutionary Guards approached a British oil tanker in the Gulf on Wednesday, July 10, and asked it to stop in Iranian waters close by, but withdrew after a British warship warned them, U.S. officials said.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence had no immediate comment.