Many negotiations were undertaken to release the vessel,[1] and the British told the Iranians that as long as the American hostages were not released, Kharg would remain in the United Kingdom.[2] However, after the hostages returned to the United States, the export license remained unissued and in August 1981 the Foreign Office declared that the ship would not be handed to Iran for a foreseeable future,[19] citing the detention of a British national in Iran, Andrew Pyke, as the reason.[24] Pyke was released in February 1982[25] and in July Iran sent three high-ranking officers to inspect the Kharg.[19] On 10 July 1984, Kharg arrived at Tyne Shiprepairers for overhaul[26] and she started sea trials on 4 September.[6] Kharg left the dock for Iran on 5 October 1984,[27] after the UK government approved her export without any armaments[5] on the grounds that she was "not suitable for use in the war against Iraq".[23]