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Oman calls for release of British-flagged ship seized by Iran
MUSCAT, July 21, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Oman called on Sunday for the release of a
British-flagged tanker detained by Iran and urged London and Tehran to
resolve their dispute with diplomacy.
Oman “looks forward to the Iranian government’s release of the British
ship”, the foreign ministry said on Twitter.
The Stena Impero was impounded with its 23 crew members aboard at the port
of Bandar Abbas after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized it in the
Strait of Hormuz on Friday.
Oman, which maintains strong ties with Iran, called on the Islamic republic
and the United Kingdom “to resolve their differences through diplomatic
channels”.
The sultanate said it was in contact with all parties to guarantee the
safety of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for about a
third of the world’s sea-borne oil.
On Saturday, Britain urged Tehran to de-escalate tensions in the Gulf by
releasing the tanker it said had been illegally seized in Omani waters.
Iran, which says it seized the tanker for breaking “international maritime
rules” remained defiant to US and European calls to release the ship and has
launched an investigation.
Tensions in the Gulf have soared since May, with US President Donald Trump
calling off air strikes against Iran at the last minute in June after the
Islamic republic downed a US drone.
The United States has also blamed Iran for multiple attacks on tankers in
the Gulf.
Oman’s Sultan Qaboos adheres to a strict policy of non-interference in
regional affairs, maintaining relations with rivals Saudi Arabia — a staunch
US ally — and Iran.
BSS/AFP/RY/1625 hrs