Iran releases 9 Indian citizens from detained ship, MT Riah

Iran has released 9 out of 12 Indian citizens Thursday who were on board of the Panama-flagged ship MT Riah that was detained in early July due to smuggling fuel.

Iran Press/AsiaThe Indian Embassy in Tehran on Thursday also got consular access to the 18 Indians who were on board the seized UK tanker Stena Impero, Indian Today news website reported.

Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy announced on July 14 that it has impounded a foreign oil tanker smuggling one million liters of fuel Southern Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf.

"IRGC navy forces impounded the vessel in a blitz operation on Sunday July 14 2019, at the request of Iranian judiciary and after they ensured that the vessel was carrying smuggled fuel," IRGC Navy announced In its statement released on Thursday.

"The foreign oil tanker, with 12 foreign crews, was to deliver its cargo to other foreign vessels," the statement added.

Kharg Island is a continental island in the Persian Gulf belonging to Iran. The island is located 25 km off the coast of Iran and 483 km northwest of the Strait of Hormuz.

IRGC also rejected some western media claims about detaining an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf in the weekend, stressing that the vigilant Iranian coast guard forces strongly continue their security and anti-smuggling operations and will not hesitate in defending Iran’s national interests.203/214

 

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IRGC impounds foreign oil tanker smuggling fuel in Persian Gulf