An Iranian government spokesman says an oil tanker pursued by the U.S. has been sold to an unnamed buyer, along with its 2.1 million barrels of crude oil.

Ali Rabiei made the announcement at news conference on Monday in Tehran. He says the ship’s buyer will decide on the tanker’s ultimate destination.

The Adrian Darya, previously known as the Grace 1, was held for weeks off Gibraltar after being seized by authorities there on suspicion of violating EU sanctions on Syria.

The U.S. has a warrant in federal court to seize the ship and has been warning nations not to accept it.


The ship had put its destination as Turkey, but later removed it. It’s still in the Mediterranean Sea heading east.

Its cargo is worth some $130 million.