Seized Iranian tanker Grace 1 is able to leave as soon as it is ready, said Chief Minister of Gibraltar, adding that the supreme court will weigh any US attempt to stop the tanker from leaving.

Iran Press/Europe: "The tanker could leave on Friday," Fabian Picardo said according to Reuters.

The chief minister added that he expects Iran to act in keeping with what it has said and that he doubts the tanker will end up in Syria

Grace 1 and its cargo of 2.1 million barrels of oil were seized unlawfully by Britain's naval forces in the strait of Gibraltar under the pretext that the supertanker had been suspected of carrying crude to Syria in breach of the European Union’s unilateral sanctions against the Arab country.

Tehran rejected the claim that the tanker was heading to Syria, slamming the seizure as “maritime piracy.”

The deputy head of Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation, Jalil Eslami, announced that the oil tanker is flying Iran's flag based on the owner's request, Iran Press reported.  

Iranian oil tanker Grace 1 is being renamed by the ship's owner to 'Adrian Darya' and is preparing to sail to the Mediterranean after Gibraltar decided to free the seized ship. 101/218

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