British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero near the Strait of Hormuz, Iran. Photo - THX:TTXVN

Iranian media reported on September 22 that the country had released the British-flagged oil tanker, Stena Impero, which was seized last July in the Strait of Hormuz for "violating maritime regulations".

The general manager of Iran's Hormozgan Ports and Sea Authority, Allahmorad Afifipour, confirmed the release of the Stena Impero, saying the ship would soon begin its journey from Iran's Bandar Abbas port to international waters.

However, Mr. Afifipour said that although the tanker was allowed to leave Iranian waters, "the legal case regarding the ship's violations remains open in Iran's judicial system."

On July 19, Iran seized the Stena Impero, accused of violating maritime regulations while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, about two weeks after Britain seized an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of Gibraltar.

However, Iranian authorities asserted that there was no link between the two arrests.