Gibraltar's Supreme Court has cleared the way for the UK territory to hold the VLCC Grace 1 for another 30 days in a sanctions case.

This is according to Gibraltar's attorney general. A new hearing has been set for 15 August.

The 301,000-dwt tanker (built 1997) was seized on 4 July after it was suspected of carrying Iranian oil to Syria.

The next day, the government secured an order from the Supreme Court extending the period of detention by 14 days.

The territory was allowed to hold it for 72 hours initially.

As a specified ship, it can be detained for up to 90 days unless an application is made for its forfeiture or proceedings are instituted against any person for an offence.

It can then only be released when the proceedings are closed.