The White House called on Iran to immediately release the British-owned ship it seized near the Strait of Hormuz, after Iranian commandos raided and detained a ship onboard a helicopter today.

"We call on Iran to release the vessel and its international crew immediately," said National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson.

"Seizing a civilian vessel without provocation is a blatant violation of international law, and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps."

Also Read: “Israeli” army warns Iran will suffer consequences of hijacking ship

The ship is partially owned by Zodiac Maritime, a company part of “Ofer Global” chaired by “Israeli” billionaire and businessman Eyal Ofer.

The detained ship is currently being moved to Iranian waters - according to Iran’s official news agency “IRNA”.

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