IRAN seized two Greek tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday in a retaliatory measure after Athens helped the US confiscate Iranian oil from a ship anchored off the Greek coast.

Revolutionary Guards stormed the vessels after descending from helicopters.

The Greek foreign minister complained to the Iranian ambassador about the “violent taking over of two Greek-flagged ships” in the Persian Gulf, demanding their immediate return.  

“These acts effectively amount to acts of piracy,” a ministry statement said. 

On Thursday, Washington was accused of stealing Iranian oil held on a Russian-operated ship near Greece and sending it to the United States.

The ship was initially impounded last month at the request of the US, with Tehran’s efforts to resolve the situation through diplomatic means rebuffed. 

Iran said the action was a violation of international law and summoned the Greek ambassador, who was told the confiscation of its oil was an act of piracy for which Athens would be held accountable. 

Greece insists that it has acted lawfully but Tehran disputes this, saying that Athens is not bound by US sanctions on Iran. 

Iran says that it was within its right to detain the tankers on Friday as Greece had violated international law through its actions. 

“The Greeks should be held responsible for their measures, and that detention of the two Greek ships is part of Iran’s right,” government spokesman Ali Reza Salimi said. 

The Communist Party of Greece said the government had exposed the Greek people to “great dangers” by following the orders of the US and Nato.

It said the incident was “an extremely serious and dangerous development” and called on both parties “to ensure the release and safe return of the crews of the two ships.”