Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Marzieh Afkham, said that the seizure of a commercial ship sailing under the flag of the Marshal Islands in Iranian waters on Tuesday was in conformity with international law.
She expressed hope that, as the practical norm, the ship will be released after resolving the financial debt.
Afkham also said that the captain of the ship is from Bulgaria and its second officer is from Russia. The nationalities of the remaining sailors of the ship are 13 Myanmar citizens, four Romanian citizens, one from Ukraine, one from UK, two Sri Lankan citizens and one from Poland. "Its entire staff enjoy good health and face no restrictions to access consular services," TASS reports.
The vessel belonged to the Maersk shipping line and was seized by Iranian coastguards by decree of the Court of Justice on April 28. The ship was transferred to port in Bandar Abbas.
