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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Stena Impero: Seized British tanker starts to leave Iran | Stena Impero: Seized British tanker starts to leave Iran |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A British-flagged oil tanker is leaving Iran, after being held for more than two months. | A British-flagged oil tanker is leaving Iran, after being held for more than two months. |
| 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 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 after 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. |
| Officials say it left for international waters at 09:00 local time (05:30 GMT) on Friday morning. | Officials say it left for international waters at 09:00 local time (05:30 GMT) on Friday morning. |
| Erik Hanell, CEO of Stena Bulk, said the vessel would head to Dubai, where the crew would be debriefed and receive medical checks. | Erik Hanell, CEO of Stena Bulk, said the vessel would head to Dubai, where the crew would be debriefed and receive medical checks. |
| "The families of crew members have been informed and the Company is currently making arrangements for the repatriation of its valued seafarers at the earliest possible opportunity," he said in a statement. | "The families of crew members have been informed and the Company is currently making arrangements for the repatriation of its valued seafarers at the earliest possible opportunity," he said in a statement. |
| The tanker's seizure, on 19 July, came two weeks after an Iranian tanker was held off Gibraltar with the help of the UK Royal Marines. | The tanker's seizure, on 19 July, came two weeks after an Iranian tanker was held off Gibraltar with the help of the UK Royal Marines. |
| That ship was suspected of violating EU sanctions on Syria, but was released in August. | That ship was suspected of violating EU sanctions on Syria, but was released in August. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Why was the tanker seized? | 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. | 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 said there was no evidence. | Iran accused the vessel of colliding with a fishing boat and failing to respond to calls, but the ship's owners said there was no evidence. |
| 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 the frigate was unable to reach the scene in time. | |
| The Stena Impero was then transported to the port of Bandar Abbas, where it has remained anchored since. | The Stena Impero was then transported to the port of 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 be still on board. | 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 be still on board. |
| The tanker reappeared on online shipping tracking websites on Friday - days after a detention order was lifted. | The tanker reappeared on online shipping tracking websites on Friday - days after a detention order was lifted. |
| A statement from Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation said the ship had been released "despite there being an open court case" against it. | A statement from Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation said the ship had been released "despite there being an open court case" against it. |
| The release comes amid high tensions in the region. There have been a series of confrontations over tankers in the Gulf, as well as a recent attack on Saudi oil facilities - which both the US and Saudi Arabia have blamed on Tehran. | The release comes amid high tensions in the region. There have been a series of confrontations over tankers in the Gulf, as well as 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. | 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. |