Gibraltar has rejected a request by the US to again seize an Iranian tanker that it has been holding since July on suspicion of transporting oil to Syria.

The US made the last-minute request on Friday, a day after Gibraltar lifted its detention order against Grace 1.

Gibraltar said it could not comply with Washington’s request to issue a new detention order because US sanctions against Iran did not apply in the EU.

The tanker is due to leave Gibraltar later on Sunday, Iran’s UK envoy says.

Tehran said it was ready to dispatch its navy to escort the ship, which has had its named changed from Grace 1 to Adrian Darya 1.