Gibraltar releases Iranian oil tanker

August 15, 2019

Gibraltar has released an Iranian oil tanker detained last month despite a last-minute United States bid to have the ship seized. 

The United Kingdom territory got written assurances from Iran that the ship would not discharge its cargo in Syria.

Grace 1, carrying Iranian oil, was stopped by Royal Marines on 4 July, triggering a standoff with Tehran

Gibraltar’s chief justice, Anthony Dudley, said no US application was currently before the court.

A couple of weeks after the Iranian tanker was stopped, Iran seized a British-flagged tanker, the Stena Impero, in the Gulf and, despite official denials, there has been speculation of a swap if the Grace 1 is freed.

Relations between the US and Iran have deteriorated sharply since US President Donald Trump took office in 2017, with the two countries coming close to armed conflict in June.