Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman has appreciated Saudi, Omani, and Swiss officials for their cooperation to secure the release of the VLCC and the repatriation of an injured Iranian sailor who was hospitalized in the kingdom’s Jizan.

“The Happiness oil tanker that had berthed at Saudi Arabia’s port of Jeddah on May 2 due to a technical failure, has finally left Jeddah port for our country’s ports on July 20 after the technical failure was fixed, and following various consultations and the Foreign Ministry’s move to pursue the matter constantly in contact with the relevant parties,” Seyed Abbas Mousavi said.

The NITC said a technical problem in the oil tanker caused sea water to leak into the ship’s engine room and stall the engine when the vessel was heading towards the Suez Canal in the Red Sea.

All of the 26 crew on board the oil tanker survived the incident as the ship was taken to the nearest safe port, namely Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah.