UK tanker Stena Impero to be released soon: Iranian Official
The British-flagged Stena Impero tanker, which was detained by Iran on July 19, will be released soon, an Iranian maritime official was quoted saying.
"After the issuing of the ruling for the end of detention of the English tanker Stena Impero this vessel will soon, and after the passing of 65 days, begin its movement from the port of Bandar Abbas toward international waters," said Allahmorad Afifipour, the head of the Ports and Maritime Organization of Iran in Hormozgan Province, in remarks on Sunday.
The official did not provide any additional information on when the tanker may be released.
The Stena Impero was detained by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz waterway for alleged marine violations, two weeks after Britain seized an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar on July 4. That vessel was released in August.
Earlier in the day Swedish public broadcaster SVT quoted Stena Bulk Chief Executive Erik Hanell as saying: "We have received information now this morning that it seems like they will release the ship Stena Impero within a few hours. So we understand that the political decision to release the ship has been taken."
