![\"Detention](\"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/08\/Detention_of_UK-Flagged_Tanker_by_Irans_Regime_Unacceptable_Owner.jpg\" "\\"Detention_of_UK-Flagged_Tanker_by_Irans_Regime_Unacceptable_Owner\\"")
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The continued detention of British-flagged tanker Stena Impero by the Iranian regime is \u201cunacceptable and unjustifiable\u201d and there are concerns for the welfare of the crew after 19 days in confinement, the vessel\u2019s owner said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Iranian regime\u2019s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on July 19 seized the Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz waterway in violation of maritime law. That came two weeks after Britain seized an Iranian oil tanker near Gibraltar for violating sanctions on Syria.<\/p>\n
Britain has repeatedly ruled out any swap of tankers.<\/p>\n
The saga has exacerbated frictions between Tehran and the West since the United States pulled out of an international agreement curbing the Iranian regime\u2019s nuclear program and reimposed economic sanctions.<\/p>\n
Stena Bulk\u2019s chief executive and president Erik Hanell said the company had limited communication with the crew onboard, according to Reuters.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough they remain in good health considering the circumstances, we continue to be concerned about their welfare given the amount of time they have been in confinement,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The vessel\u2019s 23 seafarers are of Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino nationality, the company has said.<\/p>\n
Hanell said a Finnish consulate visit to the vessel, on behalf of Latvian authorities, took place on August 3.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Finnish representative advised that the crew were in good health, however the duration of their confinement remains of considerable concern to the crew,\u201d Hanell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to emphasize the difficult circumstances they are enduring as a result of this ongoing situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The company said it had yet to receive an official answer from the authorities in Iran over its request to visit the vessel.<\/p>\n
The Iranian regime’s President Hassan Rouhani threatened on Tuesday that the regime would continue to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, unless its demands were met.<\/p>\n
Britain on Monday joined the United States in a maritime security mission in the Gulf to protect merchant vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The continued detention of British-flagged tanker Stena Impero by the Iranian regime is “unacceptable and unjustifiable” and there are concerns for the welfare of the crew after 19 days in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":53685,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[178],"class_list":{"0":"post-26551","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-iran-a-world","8":"tag-save"},"yoast_head":"\n