She was painted in battleship grey[15] and between September 1979 and February 1980, she undertook sea trials in secrecy.[19] Though she was delivered to the Iranian government on 25 April 1980, the UK government refused an export license for the ship that had been wholly paid by Iran.[20] This resulted in Kharg's some 200 crew members being trapped in the United Kingdom.[21] Swan Hunter declared that it was uninvolved in any political implications and considered building Kharg a "straightforward commercial contract".[15] The Guardian warned Iranians that Kharg may become subject to a "theft" similar to Reşad V, the battleship ordered by the Ottoman Navy from Vickers and seized by the British in 1914 to join the Royal Navy fleet.[22]