2 months later, Iran sets British oil tanker free

TEHRAN

Over two months after its seizure, Iran on Monday announced it is setting a British oil tanker free.

Government spokesman Ali Rabiei said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency that the oil tanker Stena Impero is free to continue on its way.

On Sunday, Morad Afifi Pour, managing director of Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Organization, said the British oil tanker would be released in the near future from the Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas.

On July 19, the Iranian authorities seized the British oil tanker in Gulf waters "for not falling in line with maritime rules."

The seizure took place amid rising tensions between Iran and the U.S. after Washington backed out of a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program and reimposed sanctions.

Tensions have risen since then, with the U.S. accusing Iran of attacking Saudi oil production facilities on Sept. 14 and announcing the deployment of an unspecified number of troops to Saudi Arabia.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat

TEHRAN

Over two months after its seizure, Iran on Monday announced it is setting a British oil tanker free.

Government spokesman Ali Rabiei said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency that the oil tanker Stena Impero is free to continue on its way.

On Sunday, Morad Afifi Pour, managing director of Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Organization, said the British oil tanker would be released in the near future from the Gulf port city of Bandar Abbas.

On July 19, the Iranian authorities seized the British oil tanker in Gulf waters "for not falling in line with maritime rules."

The seizure took place amid rising tensions between Iran and the U.S. after Washington backed out of a deal to curb Tehran's nuclear program and reimposed sanctions.

Tensions have risen since then, with the U.S. accusing Iran of attacking Saudi oil production facilities on Sept. 14 and announcing the deployment of an unspecified number of troops to Saudi Arabia.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat