TEHRAN, Sept 23 (NNN-TASNIM) – Iran released British oil tanker, the Stena Impero, detained in the Strait of Hormuz in July, for “maritime violations.”
Allahmorad Afifipour, general manager of Iran’s Hormozgan Maritime and Ports, confirmed the release of the British tanker, saying, the vessel will start its voyage from Iran’s Bandar Abbas to international waters “soon.”
Although the tanker is allowed to leave Iran’s waters, “the legal dossier for its violations is still open in Iran’s judiciary,” Afifipour was quoted as saying.
Iran detained the Stena Impero on July 19, alleging that it had violated maritime regulations while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, two weeks after Britain seized an Iranian tanker, off Gibraltar.
Earlier, Iran released seven crew members of the oil tanker.
Iranian officials have ruled out any link between Stena Impero’s case and the British seizure of the Iranian supertanker, Grace 1 off the coast of Gibraltar.
The Grace 1, renamed as Adrian Darya 1, was released by the Gibraltar authorities on Aug 16.– NNN-TASNIM