UK-flagged tanker Stena Impero seized by Iran is 'free to leave'
The ship's seizure in the Strait of Hormuz in July came two weeks after an Iranian tanker was detained by the UK off Gibraltar.
Tuesday 24 September 2019 07:06, UK
The British-flagged tanker Stena Impero detained by Iran more than two months ago is set to be released, Iran has said.
Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran's ambassador to the UK, wrote on Twitter that "pursuant to the completion of the judicial and legal process [the tanker] is now free to leave".
The ship's seizure in the Strait of Hormuz in July came two weeks after an Iranian tanker was detained off the coast of Gibraltar.
An Iranian government spokesman said earlier that all legal steps had been completed for Stena Impero's release but he did not confirm a date when it would be freed.
The ship has not turned on its satellite-tracking beacon in 58 days nor has there been any sign that it has left its position off the Iranian coast near the port city of Bandar Abbas.
Stena Bulk, the ship's Swedish owners, is yet to comment publicly about the ship's departure.
Earlier this month, Iran released seven of the 23 crew on board the tanker.
They were flown out of Iran, while the 16 remaining were set to stay on the ship to safely operate it.
The vessel was detained by Iran for alleged marine violations on 19 July after the UK had seized the Iranian tanker, the Adrian Darya 1, on 4 July.
The Iranian vessel, previously known as the Grace 1, was impounded after British Royal Marines abseiled onto it off Gibraltar and took its crew into custody.
The ship was seized over concerns it would break sanctions on Syria by delivering Iranian oil to President Assad's regime.
The tanker was later released when officials received a promise from Tehran that it would not go to Syria.
However, satellite images showed the vessel stationed near a port in Syria after it was freed.
At the time, the Foreign Office said it was clear Iran had breached assurances and oil had been "transferred to Syria and Assad's murderous regime".
Iran has seized or attempted to seize several ships in the Strait of Hormuz that it has accused of violating the rules of "safe passage" or smuggling fuel in the last few months.
It prompted the US and UK to send more ships and military personnel to the Gulf.
Saudi Arabia and the US have also accused Iran of launching drone attacks on a Saudi oil refinery.
Tehran has denied involvement in the attack on 14 September, which was initially claimed by Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels.
The US plans to send additional troops to the region over the rising tensions.
Boris Johnson has refused to rule the UK out of taking part in any coordinated military action on Iran if Britain is asked to do so.
The prime minister said the UK government is attributing responsibility for the drone attacks in Saudi Arabia to the regime in Tehran "with a very high degree of probability".