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The Royal Marines seized the Panamanian-flagged vessel by Gibraltar, suspected of heading for Syria, in defiance of EU sanctions, following a request from the United States. The British ambbadador to Tehran badured the Iranian regime that its decision was against Damascus and that Britain considered the Iranian oil trade as legitimate in general. Mr. Hunt tweeted, "I have just spoken to the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Zarif. Constructive appeal. I rebadured her that our concern was that the destination would not be the origin of Grace One's oil and that the United Kingdom would facilitate the release if we had the guarantee that the oil would not be sent to Syria. in accordance with due process in the courts of Gibraltar.
The Lebanese political party and militant group, Hezbollah, considered by London as a terrorist organization and widely accepted as Tehran's proxy, is also fighting in Syria alongside pro-Assad forces.
Grace I remains in detention for the time being.
The captain and the chief officer were arrested by Gibraltar officials but were released on bail without charge.
Iran's oil supply is considered vital for the survival of its economy.
The adoption of more severe sanctions by the Donald Trump administration caused a sharp drop in the level of exports.
The British government has long sought to ease tensions with the regime.
London has joined Paris and Berlin in a desperate attempt to save the Iranian nuclear deal.
Mr Trump has withdrawn from the agreement last year, accentuating tensions in the region.
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