'All 24 Indian Crew Members Aboard Seized Iranian Tanker Released, Free To Return,' Says External Affairs MoS

Grace 1, an Iranian vessel, was detained by British Marines and Gibraltar authorities on July 4, on the suspicion of violating European Union sanctions on oil shipments to Syria.

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 15 August 2019 9:16 pm

All 24 Indian crew members on board the seized Iranian ship 'Grace 1' have been released by Gibraltar authorities and are free to return to India, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Thursday.

Spoke to our High Commission @HCI_London on VLCC Grace 1. They confirmed all 24 Indian crew aboard VLCC Grace 1 have been released by Gibraltar authorities and are free to return to India. @narendramodi @PMOIndia @AmitShah @DrSJaishankar @MEAIndia @VMBJP
— V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) August 15, 2019

Grace 1, an Iranian vessel, was detained by British Marines and Gibraltar authorities on July 4, on the suspicion of violating European Union sanctions on oil shipments to Syria.

The Gibraltar authorities had said the vessel is loaded to capacity with crude oil enroute to Syria, in breach of European Union (EU) sanctions.

The maritime seizure had led to an international uproar and deepened tensions in the Persian Gulf.

(ANI)