Seven crew members of a Swedish-owned tanker seized by Iran in July will be released, the chief executive of tanker owner Stena Bulk said Wednesday (September 4th).
"Seven crew members will be released according to the Iranian authorities... but we do not know when," Stena Bulk CEO Erik Hanell told AFP, adding that the company was "cautiously" awaiting official confirmation of their release date.
The British-flagged tanker has a total crew of 23 on board.
"We view this communication as a positive step on the way to the release of all the remaining crew, which has always been our primary concern and focus," Stena Bulk said.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized control of the Stena Impero on July 19th as it was navigating through an international passage in the middle of the Strait of Hormuz.
The ship has been held offshore near Iran's southern port of Bandar Abbas.
Iranian officials have given varying reasons for its seizure and continued detention.
