Tehran
Iran’s foreign ministry said late-Sunday the British-flagged chemical tanker Stena Impero, which it had detained in mid-July, will be released soon.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi speaking to State television said “the last legal and judicial stages” to free the tanker are being processed.
“Necessary measures are being taken to completely remove the detention from the British oil tanker,” added Mousavi. ” … [It could be] be released soon.”
Stena Impero
Last week, Iran released seven crew members of the Stena Impero, which had been detained by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on July 19 for violating maritime rules and colliding with other vessels. Stena Bulk, which operates this tanker has repeatedly denied these allegations.
This detention had taken place after senior Iranian officials had suggested a British tanker could be seized in response to the detention of the Adrian Darya 1, formerly known as Grace 1.
The Adrian Darya 1 was released by Gibraltar in mid-August after being seized on suspicion of attempting to deliver oil to sanctions-hit Syria. A US request to seize the tanker on different grounds was later rejected by Gibraltar.
Source: S&P Global. Continue reading…
