Iran Releases South Korean Oil Tanker Seized Over Frozen Funds

Iran unveiled a South Korean oil tanker that experienced been at the center of a dispute around punishing U.S. sanctions on Tehran, the same day Western and Iranian officials agreed to proceed talks aimed at reviving the embattled 2015 nuclear accord.

The Hankuk Chemi, a South Korean-flagged ship that Iran impounded in January, remaining an Iranian port at five:fifty a.m. community time on Friday, South Korea’s International Ministry mentioned. Tehran initially seized the ship, along with its captain and 19 crew users, for what it mentioned were violations of environmental rules.

South Korea compensated $a hundred,000 for the launch of the ship—lower than Iran’s asking cost of $14 million, in accordance to a Western official briefed on the talks. The South Korean International Ministry didn’t reply to requests for comment.

Iran detained the Hankuk Chemi’s captain till Friday. Some of the crew users experienced been unveiled previously and went again to South Korea, while some others stayed on the ship for upkeep purposes.

“The wellbeing of the crew and captain are audio. The ship’s cargo is also in fantastic problem,” the South Korean International Ministry mentioned. A spokesman for Tehran’s International Ministry mentioned the ship was unveiled “following the completion of investigations” of its alleged misconduct.