The spat between Greece and Iran over the mutual seizure of oil tankers, which led to a diplomatic crisis between the two nations, has taken a turn after the Chalkida Board of Appeals accepted the objections filed by the legal representative of the owner company of the Russian ship Lana (former Pegas), whose Iranian oil (107,000 tons) was confiscated by Greek authorities after the orders of the US at the port of Karystos must now be returned and the ship released.

“The seizure has been overturned, the confiscation has been canceled and therefore things should return to the previous state,” the legal representative of the Iranian side told protothema.gr.

Following objections from the Iranian side, the Board of Appeals revoked the investigator’s provisions on the seizure and transfer of Iranian oil. Thus, the quantity transferred to the US Energy tanker Ice Energy will have to be returned to Lana’s tanks.

It should be reminded that, by order of the investigator of Chalkida, it was ordered not to remove the ship from the port of Karystos and to carry out all the “necessary” actions for the investigative actions requested by the USA, which requested the confiscation of the oil and its seizure.

Two days ago, the Iranian Ambassador in Athens Ahmad Nanderi also visited the tanker that remains off Karystos. The visit of the Iranian ambassador to the tanker LANA (formerly Pegas) took place at the request of the Iranian government, which received the relevant approval.

The new judicial development is very likely to de-escalate the tension that was created between Athens and Tehran and thus lead to the release of the two Greek tankers, which remain hostage.