Detained British tanker may be released ‘soon’: Iran state TV

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In this May 28, 2019 photo, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi speaks at a press conference in Tehran, Iran. Iran remains open to diplomacy to save its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers but has "no hope" in the international community, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday, July 8, 2019, as the Islamic Republic broke the limit the agreement put on its enrichment of uranium. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iran may soon release a detained British tanker after the completion of legal steps, state television reported on Sunday.

“I hope the procedures will be completed soon and this tanker will be released,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told the station.

In July, Iran seized a British oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz for alleged marine violations, two weeks after British forces detained an Iranian tanker near Gibraltar accused of taking oil to Syria in violation of European Union sanctions.

The Iranian tanker was later released. Iran this week freed seven of the 23 crew members of the British-flagged tanker.