article_snippet.sent: It's difficult to know exactly why the Iranians are behaving this way,' Warren said. '
article_snippet.sent: We call on the Iranians to respect all of the internationally established rules of freedom of navigation, the law of the sea to which the Iranians are a signatory and other established protocols,' Warren said.
article_snippet.sent: southern Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, speaking at New York University, said a lawsuit was filed against the vessel's owners between 15 and 16 years ago over an undelivered cargo. 'a lawsuit has gone through court proceedings in Tehran based on what I hear from the lawyer.
article_snippet.sent: Warren said the vessel's master had initially refused an Iranian order to move further into Iranian waters, but after the warning shots were fired the vessel complied.
article_snippet.sent: New of the seizure and action against another vessel comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, fuelled by the Yemen conflict and high-stakes diplomacy between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program.
article_snippet.sent: In October 2012, Maersk announced a halt to Maersk activities in Iran after Western oil and financial sanctions were slapped on Iran over Iran controversial nuclear program.