Iran appreciates Saudi Arabia's efforts to return an Iranian oil tanker that docked at the port of Jeddah in May because of technical problems, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said.
"Iran appreciates the efforts of the authorities of Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Oman to ensure the safe return of the Iranian oil tanker Habens 1," the semi-official Fars news agency quoted Moussaoui as saying.
Iran announced on Sunday that Saudi Arabia yesterday released an Iranian oil tanker forced to dock at the Saudi port of Jeddah after a technical problem.
The official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Transport Minister Mohammad Eslami as saying that the tanker "Habens 1" was released "as a result of negotiations and is now heading towards the waters of the Gulf."
"The problem was resolved yesterday thanks to follow-up by the Iranian Ports and Maritime Administration. The carrier moved towards the Persian Gulf with permission from the port of Jeddah to be towed by two Iranian boats," he said.
Iranian media reported this month that Saudi Arabia was not allowing the carrier to leave Jeddah because of a dispute over the payment of repair costs.
The relationship is strained between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the two countries separated by the Gulf, and their diplomatic ties have been cut off for more than three years.