Iran releases seized South Korean tanker: Seoul foreign ministry

Release of Hankuk Chemi seized by the IRGC in January comes as Iran, world powers try to revive 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran has released a South Korean-flagged tanker it seized and the vessel’s captain amid a dispute over billions in frozen oil funds, the foreign ministry in Seoul said on Friday. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Hankuk Chemi in January but the South’s foreign ministry said in a statement that its detention had been lifted and “the ship departed safely today”. The ship, with its captain and 12 other crew members on board, left the Iranian port at approximately 6am (013:0 GMT), the South Korean foreign ministry added.