Iran starts to release detained crew

Iran has released nine out of 12 Indians who were onboard the Riah tanker that was detained in early July, accused of fuel smuggling, something the ship’s charterer has strenuously denied.

Indian diplomats are now working to free the remaining three on the Riah as well as the crew on the Stena Impero, impounded by Iran a week ago, in addition to the seafarers on the Grace 1, an Iranian VLCC British armed forces took control of in waters off Gibraltar earlier this month.