US moves to block release of Iranian vessel in Gibraltar

A Gibraltar court is scheduled to rule whether Iranian tanker Grace 1 will be allowed to leave or remain under its territorial waters. The tanker Grace 1 was seized off Gibraltar last month over violating EU sanctions by carrying oil shipments to Syria.

Gibraltar: The US has applied to a court in Gibraltar to halt the release of an Iranian supertanker which was earlier detained for breaching European Union sanctions by carrying oil shipments to Syria.

"The US Department of Justice has applied to seize the Grace 1 on a number of allegations which are now being considered," the Gibraltar government said in a statement, adding that the matter would be reviewed by the court.

On Thursday, a Gibraltar court is scheduled to rule whether Iranian tanker Grace 1 will be allowed to leave or remain under its territorial waters.

The tanker was seized last month in a British Royal Navy operation off Gibraltar, on the tip of southern Spain.

It was suspected of violating European Union sanctions on oil shipments to Syria, and its seizure deepened international tensions in the Persian Gulf.

The Gibraltar government said that it is seeking to "de-escalate" the situation over the Grace 1.

Earlier, on Wednesday an Iranian official, Jalil Eslami said that London has shown willingness to resolve the diplomatic dispute that has broken out between the two sides over the seizure of oil tanker, adding that certain documents have been exchanged, which would help to settle the issue.