DUBAI, July 21 (Reuters) – Iran said on Sunday it appreciated Saudi Arabia’s efforts in the return of an Iranian ship that had docked at Jeddah port because of technical problems in May, the semi-official Fars news agency quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying.
“Iran appreciates efforts by the authorities of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Oman to secure the safe return of Iran‘s Happiness 1 oil tanker,” Abbas Mousavi said.
Iranian media reported in early July that Saudi Arabia – Iran‘s regional rival – was not allowing the ship to leave Jeddah because of a dispute over the payment of repair costs.
(Writing by Parisa Hafezi)