imho the Mesdar was boarded to make sure the igrc got a tanker if one of the attempts failed.
they got one so the other was released.
this is all ‘diplomacy’ stuff at this point.
the interesting item is that iran claims boarding rights for ‘ecological and regulatory’ purposes. A treaty probably gives them that right.
once they’re aboard the tanker is defenseless though.
What most people may not realize is that the Strait of Hormuz is NOT international waters. It is only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, so any ship passing through it must pass through the 12-mile territorial waters of either Iran or the United Arab Emirates.