Face of Nation : The tanker, seized on 4 July, was suspected of breaking EU sanctions. Iran claimed the seizure was “piracy”. Iranian ships later tried to impede a British tanker, the UK claimed.
After “constructive” talks with Tehran, Mr Hunt said he was encouraged Iran has no desire to escalate the situation.
He said he reassured Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that “our concern has always been destination, not origin of the oil” and that the UK would facilitate release “if we received sufficient guarantees that it would not be going to Syria”.
He added that Mr Zarif wants to resolve the issue and was “not seeking to escalate”.
A team of about 30 British Royal Marines were flown from the UK to Gibraltar to help detain the super tanker and its cargo, at the request of the Gibraltar government, the BBC was told.
Authorities said there was reason to believe the Iranian tanker Grace 1 was carrying crude oil to the Baniyas Refinery in Syria. The refinery is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria.
