TEHRAN, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian court has started hearing the case of the British oil tanker Stena Impero which was captured by the Iranian forces last month for "violating the international maritime regulations" at the Strait of Hormuz, Tasnim news agency reported Tuesday.

According to Mohammad Rastad, deputy minister of roads and urban development, the documents and evidence of the seized tanker's "violations" have been submitted to the court.

The case is being heard by the judicial authority in the Iranian southern port city of Bandar Abbas, said Rastad.

The Iranian official also ruled out any link between Stena Impero's case and British seizure of the Iranian supertanker Grace 1 off the coast of Gibraltar.

The Grace 1, which has been renamed Adrian Darya 1, was released by the Gibraltar authorities last week.