Iran must release seized ship 'immediately': White House

(BSS) - The White House on Saturday calledon Iran to immediately release a British-owned ship it seized near the Straitof Hormuz, as Middle East tensions soar and fears mount over an retaliatoryattack on Israel.

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

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