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Stena Impero: Seized British tanker 'preparing to leave' Iran Stena Impero: Seized British tanker starts to leave Iran
(about 1 hour later)
A British-flagged oil tanker is preparing to leave Iran after more than two months in custody. A British-flagged oil tanker is leaving Iran, after being held for more than two months.
The Stena Impero's Swedish owner, Stena Bulk, confirmed to the BBC on Friday that it was preparing to leave the Bandar Abbas port. The Stena Impero's Swedish owner, Stena Bulk, said it was on the move from the Bandar Abbas port, where it has been anchored since July.
The vessel was seized by Iranian troops in the Strait of Hormuz in July. They accused it of breaking maritime rules. The vessel was seized by Iranian troops in the Strait of Hormuz after they accused it of breaking maritime rules.
A detention order against it was lifted earlier this week, but officials said an investigation into it was ongoing. A detention order against it was lifted earlier this week, but officials said an investigation was still ongoing.
The seizure came two weeks after an Iranian tanker was held off Gibraltar with the help of the Royal Marines. That ship was suspected of violating EU sanctions on Syria, but was released in August. Its seizure came two weeks after an Iranian tanker was held off Gibraltar with the help of the Royal Marines.
Earlier this month, Iran released seven "non-essential" members of the Stena Impero's crew on humanitarian grounds. That ship was suspected of violating EU sanctions on Syria, but was released in August.
Sixteen crew members - 13 Indians, two Russians and one Filipino - are thought to still be on board. The operation against the Stena Impero was seen as retaliation for Britain's role in helping to seize the Iranian vessel, a link Tehran denied.
Further information about the tanker's release, amid reports that tracking data shows it is already moving, has not yet been confirmed. Why was the tanker seized?
The Stena Impero was passing through international waters in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that connects the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, on 19 July when it was detained by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps.
Iran accused the vessel of colliding with a fishing boat and failing to respond to calls but the ship's owners denied there was evidence of this.
The UK said it deployed a Royal Navy frigate to come to the tanker's aid and warned Iranian authorities that their actions were illegal, but were unable to reach the scene in time.
The Stena Impero was then transported to Bandar Abbas, where it has remained anchored since.
Seven "non-essential" members of its crew were freed by Iran on humanitarian grounds earlier this month. Sixteen crew members - 13 Indians, two Russians and one Filipino - are thought to still be on board.
The tanker re-appeared on online shipping tracking websites on Friday.
Iranian authorities confirmed it set off for international waters at 09:00 local time (05:30 GMT).
The Stena Impero's release comes amid high tensions in the region. There have been a series of confrontations over tankers in the Gulf and a recent attack on Saudi oil facilities - which both the US and Saudi Arabia have blamed on Tehran.
Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated this year, following President Donald Trump's abandonment of a deal aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear activities.