The British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, which had been held off the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas for more than two months, set sail and reached international waters Friday, its Swedish owner said.

Tanker released by Iran reaches international waters: Swedish owner

Iran has claimed that it released seven Indian crew members aboard the 'Stena Impero', the British-flagged oil tanker, seized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in July, the country's foreign ministry spokesperson Abbas Mousavi said on Wednesday.

Iran releases 7 Indian crew members from seized British tanker

Iran has released nine out of 12 Indians who were on board the ship MT Riah that was detained early July. However, 21 Indians are still in detention in Iran -- three from MT Riah and 18 from British oil tanker Stena Impero.

Iran releases 9 Indians on board MT Riah detained early July 

As tension continues to escalate in the Persian Gulf, Iran has hinted it is open to a tanker swap with Britain. Iran dropped the hint after the owners of UK-flagged tanker Stena Impero, seized by Tehran expressed hope for ''positive progress'' after speaking to its crew.

Amid escalating tension, Iran says it's ready for tanker swap with UK 

According to the sources, all 18 Indian crew members of the seized British-flagged Stena Impero tanker were "safe and in good health". Watch full video to know more.

18 Indians of seized UK-Flagged tanker safe: Sources

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Monday said the UK wanted to establish a European-led maritime protection force for the Gulf but emphasised that London was not seeking a confrontation with Iran.

Seeking to put together European-led maritime protection mission in Gulf: UK

Prime Minister Theresa May will hold a meeting of Britain's emergencies committee on Monday to discuss Iran's seizure of a UK-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf. In one of her final important acts as prime minister before resigning on Wednesday, May will chair a meeting of Britain's COBR emergencies committee at around 10:30 am (0930 GMT), her Downing Street office said.

British PM Theresa May to hold emergency meeting on seized tanker