of the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, which the Iranian forces had detained in August. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi stated that they have been released on humanitarian grounds. He said that their problem was the violation committed by the ship. On 23 September, the Iranian authorities announced that the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, which they had captured on July 19 in the Strait of Hormuz, was free to leave. According to the government spokesperson Ali Rabiei informed that the legal process concluded and all the conditions to let the oil tanker go were also fulfilled. However, on September 24, it was reported that despite raising a green signal for the British tanker to leave the port, it remained in Iran waters. Swedish owner of Stena Impero, Erik Hanell said that they had no idea why the tanker was still there. On 27 September, the Stena Impero departed from Iranian waters and made its way to Port Rashid in Dubai. All of the remaining crew members who were still detained by Iran were released as well. The ship was also able to transmit location signals before arriving at Port Rashid, Dubai, after which the remaining crew members started undergoing medical checkups. The same day, HMS Duncan returned to Portsmouth. Detention of British Nationals Following the release of dual British-Iranian Nationals of Anoosheh Ashoori and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and furlough of tri-national Morad Tahbaz on 16 March 2022, Iran thenreturned Morad Tahbaz back to detention within two days. On 14 January 2023, Iran executed dual British-Iranian Alireza Akbari. United kingdom sanctions on Iran In the beginning of 2023, the European Union along with Britian, had imposed sanctions on over 30 Iranian officials and organizations, including units of the revolutionary guards, due to their alleged involvement in human rights abuses during a crackdown on civil unrest. Iran had threatened retaliation. See also Iranians in the United Kingdom 1979 Iranian Revolution conspiracy theory 2007 Iranian seizure of Royal Navy personnel Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907 Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran Foreign relations of Iran Foreign relations of the United Kingdom Imperial Bank of Persia, a British-owned bank established in 1889. 2011–12 Strait of Hormuz dispute British School of Tehran Old fox, a term used by Iranians to describe Britain. Bushire Under British Occupation References Further reading Bonakdarian, Mansour. Britain and the Iranian Constitutional Revolution 1906–1911. Syracuse University Press in association with the Iran Heritage