The crew of the seized British tanker Stena Impero are safe, the vessel’s owners have said after direct communication with them in Iran.

The vessel was taken by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Friday amid heightened tensions between Tehran and the UK over the seizure of an Iranian supertanker off the coast of Gibraltar earlier this month.

Stena Bulk confirmed it has now had direct contact with the 23-member crew of the impounded, British-flagged vessel. The ship’s master said they were all safe and there had been good cooperation with the Iranian personnel on board.

Tehran first released photos of the crew, including nationals from India, the Philippines, Latvia and Russia at the weekend.

The company said the crew’s family members were being kept updated on the latest developments and being offered support.

In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran Show all 13 1 /13 In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran A speedboat of Iran's Revolutionary Guard moving around the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero Tasnim News Agency/AP In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran Crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran A satellite image of the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas reveals the presence of the seized British oil tanker, the Stena Impero on July 22 Maxar Technologies/Reuters In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran Iranian Revolutionary Guards patrolling around the captured British-flagged tanker Stena Impero as it's anchored off the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas AFP/Getty In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran epa07733612 A handout photo made available by Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on 22 July 2019 shows crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July 2019. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July 2019. EPA/IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran A satellite image of the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas reveals the presence of the seized British oil tanker, the Stena Impero on July 22 Maxar Technologies/Reuters In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran A speedboat of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard moves around a British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero AP In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran epa07733614 A handout photo made available by Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on 22 July 2019 shows crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July 2019. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July 2019. EPA/IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran In this photo released by state-run IRIB News Agency, which aired on Monday, July 22, 2019, shows cooks in the galley of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero that was seized by Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. The Associated Press cannot independently verify the condition of the crew members, but in the video they looked to be in good health and it didn't appear as though they were being filmed under duress. (IRIB News Agency via AP) AP In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran epa07733619 A handout photo made available by Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on 22 July 2019 shows crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July 2019. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July 2019. EPA/IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran epa07733613 A handout photo made available by Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on 22 July 2019 shows crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July 2019. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July 2019. EPA/IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT EPA/IRIB News Agency In photos: British-flagged tanker seized by Iran epa07733616 A handout photo made available by Iranian state-run IRIB News Agency on 22 July 2019 shows crew members of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, that was seized by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz on 19 July 2019. Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have seized Stena Impero at the Strait of Hormuz with 23 crew on board on 20 July 2019. EPA/IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES IRIB NEWS AGENCY / HANDOUT EPA/IRIB News Agency

Erik Hanell, president and CEO of Stena Bulk said: “We do of course appreciate this step of development and that this is a first sign that we will soon see more positive progress from the Iranian authorities.”

The development came as the head of the Iranian supreme leader’s office claimed the UK was sending a mediator to negotiate for the release of the vessel.

“A country that at one time appointed ministers and lawyers in Iran has reached a point where they send a mediator and plead for their ship to be freed,” Mohammad Mohammadi-Golpayegani said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news site.

UK sources insisted they were not aware of any mediator being sent to Iran, insisting that diplomatic contacts were through the ambassador and embassy in Tehran.

Earlier on Wednesday, a large British-flagged vessel was able to transit the Strait of Hormuz in the first such passage made by a UK ship since Iran seized the Stena Impero tanker.

Moment Iranian forces storm British oil tanker in Gulf

Maritime publication Lloyd’s List identified the ship as the BW Elm. It reported that the Royal Navy warship HMS Montrose closely shadowed the vessel, but did not provide a direct escort.

Data from the tracking site Marine Traffic showed the commercial ship arrived at a port in Qatar early on Wednesday after transiting the strait.

The ship’s owner BW LPG declined to comment on specifics, but said the company “is grateful for the UK and international community for their naval presence” providing security to ships in the area.

The standoff will be one of the first diplomatic challenges confronting incoming prime minister Boris Johnson.