Terror cells backed by Iran could be activated to carry out attacks in the UK, an intelligence source has claimed.

Axar.az reports citing Dailystar that Iran and the UK are embroiled in a bitter dispute over the capture of oil tankers following the US imposing sanctions on Tehran which prevents it trading oil with most world powers.

The Royal Navy seized Iranian tanker Grace 1 in Gibraltar earlier this month, and now Iranian commandos have captured British-flagged tanker Stena Impero in the Gulf.

Jeremy Hunt has said Tehran's actions showed "worrying signs Iran may be choosing a dangerous path of illegal and destabilising behaviour”.

And now a terror expert has claimed Iran could activate terrorist “sleeper cells” to attack Britain.

Tensions between Iran and the UK have soared after Iranian military seized a British-flagged tanker, Stena Impero, in the Persian Gulf on Friday.