British-flagged oil tanker seized by Iran two months ago sets sail after being released

The seizure was widely seen as a tit-for-tat move after Gibraltar detained an Iranian tanker on suspicion it was shipping oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions

Despite the release, Iranian officials say a legal case is still open in Iran’s courts

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The British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, which was seized by the Iran's Revolutionary Guard, is seen in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. Photo: AP

Published: 3:49pm, 27 Sep 2019Updated: 3:49pm, 27 Sep 2019

The British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, which had been held off the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas for more than two months, set sail on Friday, an Iranian shipping organisation said.

The ship’s seizure was widely seen as a tit-for-tat move after authorities in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar detained an Iranian tanker on suspicion it was shipping oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions.

Tehran repeatedly denied the cases were related but a Gibraltar last month ordered the Iranian tanker’s release despite an 11th-hour US legal bid to keep it in detention.

“The Stena Impero started sailing from the mooring towards the Persian Gulf’s international waters as of 9am [05:30 GMT] today,” Hormozgan province’s maritime organisation said on its website.

“Despite the vessel’s clearance, its legal case is still open in Iran’s courts,” it added.

The tanker’s captain and crew have also “given a written, official statement that they have no claims”.