US moves to take Iranian oil tanker from UK: Gibraltar

Gibraltar says the US has applied to seize an Iranian oil tanker, which is being held in the British overseas territory, on unknown grounds, after UK media reported that the vessel’s release was imminent following a set of diplomatic exchanges between Tehran and London.

“The US Department of Justice has applied to seize the Grace 1 on a number of allegations which are now being considered,” the Gibraltar government said in a statement, Press TV reported.

It added that the “matter will return to the Supreme Court of Gibraltar at 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) today."

Washington’s request — which was initially reported by Gibraltar Chronicle newspaper — came just ahead of a court decision in the British territory on whether to extend the detention of Grace 1.

On Wednesday night, The Sun had reported that Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo would not ask the judge to extend the supertanker’s detention during the court hearing on Thursday.

Gibraltar Chronicle cited the top court’s chief justice, Anthony Dudley, as saying that were it not for the US request, “the ship would have sailed.” It added that the captain and three officers of the Grace 1 have been released from arrest.

SS