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UK-flagged Stena Impero oil tanker leaving Iranian port

The vessel was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on July 19

Stena Impero oil tanker EPA-EFE/Tasnim News Agency

Stena Impero oil tanker

© EPA-EFE/Tasnim News Agency

TASS, September 24. The Stena Impero oil tanker, flying the British flag and owned by the Swedish Stena Bulk company, which was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on July 19, is leaving the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. The Tasnim News Agency reported the news on Tuesday citing TankerTrackers.com, a website that tracks movements of oil tankers and vessels.

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Iran releases UK-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero — TV

UK-flagged Stena Impero was seized in the Strait of Hormuz on July 19. According to a statement issued by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, elite forces), the vessel was detained because it had violated international rules and was followed toward the shore for a check. Later, the Iranian authorities said that the tanker had been involved in an incident with an Iranian fishing trawler.

On Monday, representative of the Iranian government Ali Rabiei said that "the legal procedures to have the British tanker released were completed," without naming a timeframe when the vessel could in fact leave Bandar Abbas. Iranian Ambassador to the UK Hamid Baeidinejad also confirmed that Stena Impero was free to go.

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