9 September
Iran's Foreign Ministry says the country is likely to soon release a British tanker it is detaining.
Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi told the country's state-run news agency on Sunday that necessary procedures are being taken to release the tanker and that the legal steps are about to be completed.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the tanker in the Strait of Hormuz in July for alleged violations of international navigation rules.
Earlier in July, authorities in the British territory of Gibraltar seized an Iranian tanker. After the two sides detained each other's ships for more than one month, the British territory released the Iranian tanker last month.
Iran has been negotiating economic assistance with France and other countries in recent months as it struggles under sanctions from the United States.
Observers say Iran's taking steps to release the British tanker shows the country's commitment to maintaining ties with European countries.
NHK
