An Iranian oil cargo which had been seized by Athens upon a US order has been released by Greece after six months, the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed reports Tehran released two Greek-flagged tankers that had been confiscated in the country’s waters in the Persian Gulf in May after an Iranian-flagged tanker was allowed to leave Greece.

It noted the Greek tankers had left Iranian waters earlier in the day based on an understanding reached between maritime authorities of Iran and Greece.

The statement indicated that Iranian-flagged tanker Lana had set sail from Greece hours earlier and seven months after it was seized in the country because of US pressure.

Tanker tracking services announced on Wednesday that Lana was underway from Greece and Istanbul was listed as its destination. Data from those services showed Greek tankers Delta Poseidon and Prudent Warrior were underway from Iran and were sailing to ports in the United Arab Emirates for inspections before returning to Greece.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in its statement that Iranian and Greek maritime authorities had signed a memorandum of understanding to increase their cooperation in order to improve maritime security.

It added the agreement came following months of intensive negotiations between the two countries and allowed the confiscated vessels to leave on the same day.

The statement highlighted the fact that the United States had sought to confiscate an oil cargo on Lana under false accusations that it violated the unilateral American sanctions on Iran.

It described the move as a piracy and stressed it was in line with previous US attempts to confiscate Iranian oil in international or territorial waters.  

The Greek authorities confiscated Lana and its cargo back in April, handing over its cargo of crude to a US tanker.

Tehran described the seizure by Athens as an “act of piracy” that was “in violation of international standards”.

In response, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) seized two Greek oil tankers.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has said that Tehran’s seizure of Greek oil tankers was retaliation against Athens because it “stole” Iranian oil.

“The Iranian fuel was stolen off Greece, then the brave [forces] of the Islamic republic made up for that by seizing an enemy ship,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated in early June.

“It’s you who stole our oil,” he added, addressing the country’s “enemies”.