by iranian officials. math o matthew chance is in abu dhabi. what does iran hope to gain out of seizing this ship? >> reporter: clearly, martin, iran has been threatening for some weeks now to retaliate for the british capture of an iranian oil tanker off the coast of gilbraltar in southern europe at the mouth of the mediterranean earlier this month. britain says the tanker was in violation of e.u. sanctions and intended to ship oil in violations of those sanctions to syria. the syrians have denied that. a and the iranians seem to have retaliated, this british ship being boarded by iranian