British-Flagged Tanker's Crew Confirmed As Safe By Owners

The Stena Impero crew have been confirmed as being safe by its owners (Picture: Stena Impero).

The crew of Stena Impero, the British-flagged tanker seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in the Strait of Hormuz, has been confirmed as safe by the ship's owners.

It comes as Iran's president signalled a deal could be possible regarding the tanker.

Stena Bulk says it has spoken to the ship’s master after making direct contact with the crew of the vessel – which was seized in Iran on Friday.

The firm is keeping the families updated and offering their full support, according to CEO and President Erik Hanell.

"We do of course appreciate this step of development and that this is a first sign that we will soon see more positive progress from the Iranian authorities," he said.

President Hassan Rouhani suggested on Wednesday that the Stena Impero vessel could be released if the UK takes similar steps to hand back an Iranian oil tanker seized by the Royal Navy off Gibraltar earlier this month.

"We do not seek the continuation of tension with some European countries," Mr Rouhani said in comments carried on his website.

"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."

Mr Rouhani described the Iranian seizure of the UK-flagged Stena Impero as "professional and brave".

The development came as the head of the Iranian supreme leader's office said the UK was sending a mediator to negotiate for the release of the vessel.

UK sources insisted they were not aware of any mediator being sent to Iran, insisting that diplomatic contacts were through the ambassador and embassy in Tehran.

According to the semi-official Tasnim news site, Mohammad Mohammadi-Golpayegani said:

"A country that at one time appointed ministers and lawyers in Iran has reached a point where they send a mediator and plead for their ship to be freed".

Tehran claim Stena Impero collided with a fishing boat, while the UK's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has labelled Iran's actions as "state piracy".