Judiciary Has Sole Power to Rule on Case of S. Korean Ship: Iranian Spokesman

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson quashed rumor about the possibility of release of a South Korean vessel captured in the Persian Gulf, saying only the Judiciary has the authority to rule on the case. Asked by reporters about the speculation on the release of the South Korean tanker that the IRGC has […]

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson quashed rumor about the possibility of release of a South Korean vessel captured in the Persian Gulf, saying only the Judiciary has the authority to rule on the case.

Asked by reporters about the speculation on the release of the South Korean tanker that the IRGC has recently seized in the Persian Gulf for violating environmental regulations, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Saturday, “The Judiciary’s stances and decisions would be announced only by the Judiciary’s spokesperson, and the comments about this case from people without any authority lack credibility.”

He explained that the offending South Korean ship has been captured because of environmental pollution in the Persian Gulf waters under a warrant issued by the judicial authorities.

The case is undergoing judicial processes currently, and any development regarding the issue would be within the competence of the Iranian Judiciary, Khatibzadeh underlined.

The IRGC Navy seized the South Korean-flagged oil tanker, named HANKUK CHEMI, in early January.

The tanker, which had departed from Saudi Arabia’s Al Jubail port, was carrying 7,200 tons of oil chemical materials in violation of environmental regulations.

The oil tanker has berthed at Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas for legal procedures.