Tehran (IP) - The spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the positive view of the country's Attorney-General to the clean record of the seized South Korean ship and its captain led to the release of the ship.

Iran Press/Iran news: Following the completion of the investigation into the South Korean ship's violation of environmental rules and at the request of the owner and the South Korean government for the release of the ship, Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Friday that the order to its release was issued by Iran's Attorney-General.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a country with long coasts in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, stresses the full observance of maritime regulations, including the regulations on environmental protection, and monitors any violations in this regard, Khatibzadeh added.

Iran released a South Korean oil tanker, and its captain seized it over oil pollution.

The ship, with its captain and 12 other crew members aboard, left the Iranian port at around 6 a.m. (Iran time), the South Korean Foreign Ministry said.

Iran seized the Hankuk Chemi and its 20 crew members in its waters on Jan. 4, for the ship violated environmental rules.

Iran agreed to free all of the ship’s 20 crew members except for the captain in February after a South Korean vice foreign minister visited Tehran.

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Iran releases seized South Korean ship, captain