The Liberian-flagged oil tanker Ice Energy transfers crude oil from the Iranian-flagged oil tanker Lana (former Pegas), off the shore of Karystos, on the Island of Evia, Greece, on May 26, 2022. (Reuters)

The oil stolen by Greece from the Iranian-flagged tanker Lana will soon be returned, the Embassy of Iran in Athens confirmed.

"Stolen Iranian oil is being transferred to the Lana in Greek waters and will soon leave for our country with a full cargo of oil," the Embassy said on Friday without giving any information on which party is paying for the transfer.

Last month, the Greek Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Greek shipping firm Dynacom against the Iranian-flagged tanker Lana and ordered the return of 60,000 tons of crude oil (out of the total 104,134 tons carried by Lana).

In May, the US ordered seizing the oil near Greece, with the cargo set to be sent to the US through another ship.

At the time, a Western source familiar with the matter mentioned that the seized Iranian oil was transferred into the Liberian-flagged tanker Ice Energy - operated by Greek shipping company Dynacom.

A Dynacom source pointed out that a "transfer of the oil was underway from the vessel to Dynacom's Ice Energy, which will then sail to the United States."

In response, Iran's Coast Guard seized two Greek oil tankers, the Delta Poseidon and the Prudent Warrior, off the coast of Aslaviyeh and Bandar Lengeh, a mere two days after Greece seized the Lana tanker in compliance with US pressures and orders, saying they were in violation of maritime navigation rules.

Iranian media outlets said that Tehran has made the decision to take punitive measures against Greece on account of the latter's seizing of an Iranian oil tanker close to its coasts for no valid reason whatsoever.

Early in July, the Greek coastguard stated that the ship was freed and hauled to the port of Piraeus after the Greek court ordered to release it in mid-June.