Spokesman: British-Flagged Tanker Free to Leave

Rabiyee told reporters during his weekly presser in Tehran on Monday that Iran has decided to condone the violation of international maritime regulations by the Stena Impero, adding that the British-flagged tanker is now free to leave the Southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, as the legal formalities have been observed and completed.

On Sunday, Head of the Ports and Maritime Department of Iran’s Hormuzgan Province Allahmorad Afifipour announced that his country would soon release the Stena Impero, the British-flagged tanker which was impounded because of violating maritime regulations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Stena Impero was impounded by Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on July 19 for numerous violations of international maritime regulations when it was passing through the Strait of Hormuz.  

The British-flagged vessel has 23 crew members, 18 of which were from India. The other crew members are from Russia, Latvia and the Philippines.

Last Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi said that the Stena Impero, which was impounded because of violating maritime regulation in the Strait of Hormuz, will be soon freed after observing legal proceedings.

Legal proceedings against UK-flagged Stena Impero are “almost finished” and there remains just “two or three formalities” to take care of before releasing the ship, said Mousavi in his weekly press conference.

“This release is not being made because of any third party’s mediation,” he highlighted.