Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 16
Gibraltar released all the crew aboard the seized Iranian tanker despite a last-minute attempt by the United States to seize it.
Confirming the development, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said all 24 Indian crew members aboard the Iranian oil tanker, VLCC Grace 1, have been released by Gibraltar authorities and are free to return to India.
Gibraltar, a British Protectorate, had seized the tanker in early July at the western mouth of the Mediterranean on suspicion of violating European Union sanctions by taking oil to Syria, a close ally of Iran.
Its Supreme Court ordered the release after a written assurance from Iran that the destination of Grace 1 would not be to Syria. Gibraltar has also ended the police case against four members of the crew. The Indian crew members had been charged of being in-charge of a ship that was violating EU sanctions.
Most Read In 24 Hours
Don't Miss
View All
Top News
Lok Sabha election: After women wrestlers' protests, BJP drops 6-time MP Brij Bhushan Singh from UP’s Kaiserganj; fields his son
UP minister and Legislative Council Member Dinesh Pratap Sin...
US President Joe Biden calls India, China, Russia and Japan ‘xenophobic’ nations
Biden’s remarks came three weeks after he had hosted Japanes...
Stop registering voters for beneficiary schemes under guise of surveys: Election Commission to political parties
Poll body issues advisory to all national and state politica...
'Part of Indian territory': India lodges protest with China over construction activities in Shaksgam Valley
Shaksgam valley is a strategically key region that is part o...
Religious freedom: US body red-cards India, pussyfoots around Israel
USCIRF a biased organisation, publishes propaganda masquerad...
