Gibraltar ‘seeks to de-escalate’ Britain-Iran tanker standoff

Gibraltar said on Tuesday it was seeking to help de-escalate UK-Iran tensions since the detention of the Grace 1 tanker, Reuters said.

British Royal Marines seized the Iranian oil tanker on July 4 off the coast of Gibraltar on suspicion of violating EU sanctions by taking oil to Syria, which Tehran denies.

“We continue to seek to de-escalate issues arising since the lawful detention of Grace 1,” a spokesman for Gibraltar said. The current detention order on the vessel expires on Saturday night.

Tehran said on Tuesday that Britain might free its oil tanker Grace 1 soon, after “some documents were exchanged” which could assist in getting the seized ship released.