Gibraltar Says It'll Hold On To Iranian Tanker

A picture shows supertanker Grace 1 off the coast of Gibraltar on July 6, 2019. - Iran demanded on July 5, 2019 that Britain immediately release an oil tanker it has detained in Gibraltar, accusing it of acting at the bidding of the United States. Authori

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)

Gibraltar's government says the British overseas territory's Supreme Court has extended for 30 days the detention of an Iranian supertanker suspected of breaching European Union sanctions.

The government said in a statement on Friday that the court has set Aug. 15 as the date for a new hearing on the Panama-flagged Grace 1, which was intercepted off the southern tip of Spain.

British Royal Marines boarded the ship July 4 amid suspicion it was taking a shipment of Iranian crude oil to Syria, deepening Persian Gulf tensions

The EU has imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad's government over its continued crackdown against civilians.

Gibraltar police have arrested the vessel's captain, chief officer and two second mates as part of their investigation. All are Indian.

SEE ALSO: Gibraltar Had "Positive" Meeting With Iran Over Seized Grace 1 Tanker