US moves to block release of Iranian tanker detained in Gibraltar

The US Department of Justice has made a last-minute application to block the release of the Iranian oil tanker Grace 1, which was seized by authorities in Gibraltar last month, a spokesman for the Gibraltar attorney general told CNN.

Gibraltar attorney general Joseph Triay revealed the application had been made at a short hearing at the Supreme Court on Thursday morning.

A decision by the court on whether the tanker could be released was expected on Thursday morning, but has now been delayed until later in the day because of the US request, the spokesman added.

The Gibraltar Chronicle reported that a judge in the hearing said the ship would have been freed were it not for the US intervention.

"The US Department of Justice has applied to seize the Grace 1 on a number of allegations which are now being considered.

The matter will return to the Supreme Court of Gibraltar at 4:00 p.m. today," the Gibraltar government said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear what the US Department of Justice allegations were.

Grace 1 was boarded by British Royal Marines and Gibraltarian authorities in August.

A spokesman for Gibraltar's attorney general announced that the captain of the Grace 1 and three officers would be released.

British Royal Marines and Gibraltar port and law enforcement agencies stormed the ship on July 4 under the belief that the vessel carried oil destined for Syria, which would have been in violation of European Union sanctions.