World reactions

Germany strongly condemned the seizure of two merchant ships in the Gulf region and asked Iran to release the second ship immediately, according to a statement by the German Foreign Ministry on Saturday.

This is an unjustifiable intrusion into the civilian shipping industry, which further exacerbates an already strained situation, said the statement, urging Iran to immediately release the second ship and its crew as well.

Another regional escalation would be very dangerous. It would also undermine all ongoing efforts to find a way out of the current crisis, according to the statement, which said that in this serious situation, Germany's solidarity goes to its British partners.

France's foreign ministry also said on Saturday it was very concerned by the seizure of a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, saying such an action harmed de-escalation efforts in the region.