WASHINGTON — The United States accused Iran of "escalatory violence" on Friday after the country's Revolutionary Guards announced they had confiscated a British tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"This is the second time in just over a week the UK has been the target of escalatory violence by the Iranian regime," National Security Council spokesman Garrett Marquis said in a statement.

"The US will continue to work with our allies and partners to defend our security and interests against Iran's malign behavior," he added. — AFP