MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

British oil tanker Stena Impero to be released from Iranian custody soon

The tanker is technically allowed to leave Iran's waters

The British oil tanker Stena Impero, held by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz since July for alleged “maritime violations,” has been cleared to leave, according to local press reports published Sunday. The vessel is due to depart “soon.”

 Iran's Hormozgan Maritime and Ports
General Manager Allahmorad Afifipour
confirmed the release of the vessel, saying that she will start her voyage from Iran's Bandar Abbas port, pending some paperwork.

Although the tanker is technically 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 the 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.

The Iranian officials have ruled out any link between Stena Impero's case and 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.