Gibraltar frees Iranian tanker, Indian crew

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 16

Gibraltar released all the crew aboard the seized Iranian tanker despite a last-minute attempt by the United States to seize it. 

Confirming the development, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said all 24 Indian crew members aboard the Iranian oil tanker, VLCC Grace 1, have been released by Gibraltar authorities and are free to return to India.

Gibraltar, a British Protectorate, had seized the tanker in early July at the western mouth of the Mediterranean  on suspicion of violating European Union sanctions by taking oil to Syria, a close ally of Iran.

Its Supreme Court ordered the release after a written assurance from Iran that the destination of Grace 1 would not be to  Syria. Gibraltar has also ended the police case against four members of the crew. The Indian crew members had been charged of being in-charge of a ship that was violating EU sanctions.