Iran indicates tanker swap with UK

Tehran signals release of British-Stena Impero if UK releases Iranian Grace 1 tanker.

Tehran: Amid the deepening Gulf crisis, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday suggested that Tehran might release a British ship if the UK takes similar steps to release an Iranian oil tanker seized by the British Royal Navy off Gibraltar.

Rouhani said, "We do not seek continuation of tension with some European countries. Should they be committed to international frameworks and give up their wrong actions, including what they did in Gibraltar, they will receive a proportional response from Iran too, in return for their suitable action."

Earlier, Britain announced plans to develop and deploy a Europe-led "maritime protection mission" to safeguard shipping in the Gulf area after Iran seized a British tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials have alleged the ship was seized over violating international maritime law.However, Iranian officials also suggested the ship was seized in response to Britain's role in impounding an Iranian supertanker.On July 4, British Royal Marines had seized an Iranian tanker over breaching European Union sanctions by carrying oil to Syria.