The two Greek tankers seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Friday have been ordered to sail to Bandar Abbas on the southern coast of Iran on Sunday, Ekathimerini reports.
Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization said in a statement the crews of the vessels have not been detained, and they were in good health and being cared for on board their vessels.
Their cell phones have also been returned to them over the weekend to communicate with their families.
The family of one of the Greek crew spoke to Star TV on Sunday after they communicated with their son. The “Iranians are still onboard,” the father said in his interview.
READ MORE: Iran lodges diplomatic complaint over Greece siding with US.
The two vessels were seized shortly after Tehran warned it would take “punitive action” against Athens over the confiscation of Iranian oil by the United States from a tanker held off the Greek coast.
Greece said on Friday an Iranian navy helicopter landed on Greek-flagged vessel Delta Poseidon in international waters and took the crew hostage. It said a similar incident took place on the other Greek-flagged vessel. Athens said both actions violated international law.
Greek authorities last month impounded the Iranian-flagged Pegas off Greece due to European Union sanctions. The United States later confiscated the Iranian oil cargo held onboard, Reuters reported on Thursday.
READ MORE: Greece increases security measures amid US-Iran tensions.
Source: Ekathimerini.
