Iran Releases Greek-Owned Tanker's Oil Cargo Amid Diplomatic Negotiations

Iran has released the oil cargo of the Greek-owned, Marshall-Islands-flagged tanker M/T St. Nikolas, seized in January in the Gulf of Oman. The cargo, 1 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil destined for Turkey, was transferred to the Turkey-flagged T. Semahat. Despite the release, the vessel itself remains held by Iran.

Iran has released the oil cargo of a Greek-owned, Marshall-Islands-flagged tanker it seized in the Gulf of Oman earlier this year, according to a shipping source. The vessel, M/T St. Nikolas, remains detained by Iran.

The Greek-owned tanker was laden with 1 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil destined for Turkey when it was taken. The cargo was transferred to the Turkey-flagged tanker T. Semahat via a ship-to-ship transfer near Iran’s Larak Island, as per Claire Jungman from the U.S. advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran.

T. Semahat's Turkey-based operator, Ditas, has not commented. The released cargo was destined for the port of Fujairah in the UAE, sailing away from Iran. Iran claims the tanker was seized in retaliation for a previous U.S. confiscation. Iran’s foreign and oil ministries did not provide immediate responses.