UK renews Iran criticism after tanker released

Britain has responded to Iran’s release of a U.K.-flagged oil tanker seized in July by accusing Tehran of trying to disrupt freedom of navigation.

The Swedish owner of the Stena Impero confirmed Friday that it had left the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and was headed for Dubai.

U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says “the Stena Impero was unlawfully seized by Iran.”

He says the seizure was “part of a pattern of attempts to disrupt freedom of navigation.” He says London is “working with our international partners to protect shipping and uphold the international rule of law.”

Iran seized the tanker July 19 in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil passes. The seizure came two weeks after British marines helped take control of an Iranian supertanker off Gibraltar on July 4.

The head of the Swedish shipping firm that owns a British-flagged oil tanker held by Iran since July says “it has been a long wait” for the Stena Impero to get it released.

Erik Hanell, CEO of Stena Bulk, told Sweden’s TV4 channel on Friday it “has meant enormous pressure for us all, especially for the crew.”

In a telephone interview, Hannell said the ship seems to be in good condition and “hopefully it will be on duty within a week or so.”

“These ships cost about $20,000 a day, so it adds up to quite a lot,” he said. “Money is important of course, but the focus is on the crew.”

The tanker left the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas on Friday morning and was headed to Dubai, where the crew would receive medical checks and be debriefed.

The head of the Swedish shipping firm that owns a British-flagged oil tanker held by Iran since July says the vessel and its crew have been released.

Erik Hanell, CEO of Stena Bulk said Tuesday the Stena Impero “has left the port of Bandar Abbas and is transiting to Dubai for the crew to disembark and receive medical checks and de-briefing.”

Hanell says that the families of crew members have been informed, and Stena Bulk was “currently making arrangements for the repatriation of its valued seafarers at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Friday’s statement came hours after Iran’s marine and port authority said the oil tanker has left Iranian territorial waters and was heading to international waters.

Iran’s marine and port authority is saying a British-flagged oil tanker held by Iran since July has left Iran.

The statement came Friday morning, around two hours after a ship-tracking website showed the Stena Impero began transmitting its location for the first time in weeks. The company that owns the ship said it was preparing to leave Iran.

The marine and port authority said on its website the vessel left Iranian waters at 8:30 a.m. (5 a.m. GMT) heading to international waters.

Iran seized the tanker in July in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil passes. That came just weeks after authorities in Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, seized an Iranian oil tanker carrying some $130 million in crude oil. It was seized on suspicion of breaking European Union sanctions on Syria.

A ship-tracking website shows a British-flagged oil tanker held by Iran since July has transmitted its location for the first time in weeks.

MarineTraffic.com, citing satellite data, showed the Stena Impero just outside the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas Friday morning, where it had been held since being seized by Iran on July 19. There was no immediate comment from the ship’s owners or Iranian authorities.

The data showed the ship was stationary at 8:18 a.m. local time (4:48 a.m. GMT).

On Monday, a government spokesman in Iran said legal proceedings against the vessel had concluded.

Iran seized the tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil passes.