Officials from Gibraltar and Iran have met to discuss the crisis over the UK territory's seizure of the VLCC Grace 1.
The 301,000-dwt vessel (built 1997) was detained on 4 July while allegedly carrying Iranian oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions.
Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo met Iranian officials in London on Wednesday "to discuss matters related to the detention of Grace 1 and to seek to de-escalate all aspects of the issues arising," the Gibraltar government said.
"The meeting was constructive and positive."
The delegation also met UK prime minister Theresa May in London this week.
Iran wants the ship released, while the US called for the release of a small tanker, the 1,800-dwt Iraqi-owned Riah (built 1988), that was seized by Iran at the weekend in the Middle East Gulf over alleged oil smuggling.
The US has said it would work “aggressively” to ensure free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
