Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh (File photo)

TEHRAN, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on Saturday commented on the rumors on the possibility of releasing a vessel of Republic of Korea (ROK) recently seized by Iran in the Gulf, saying the statements by people not related to the issue lack any basis.

Khatibzadeh made the remarks in response to a question by some reporters about the rumors of possible release of the ROK ship, as reported by official news agency IRNA.

He stressed that decisions made by the Iran judiciary which is in charge of the issue, are announced only by its spokesman so the statements by people not related to the issue lack any basis, adding that the ROK ship was seized for polluting the Gulf waters upon an Iranian judiciary order.

The spokesman said since the case is still under investigation, it is only the judiciary that has the authority to make any announcements in this regard.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps announced in a statement on Jan. 4 that an ROK vessel carrying 7,200 tons of petrochemicals had been seized for violating environmental protocols in the Gulf. Enditem