The Iranian government initiated negotiations to secure the export license, with the British government informing the Iranians that as long as the Iranian government refused to release their American hostages, "Kharg" would not be issued with an export license. However, after the hostages were returned to the United States, the export license remained unissued and in August 1981 the Foreign Office declared that the ship would not be issued an export license for the foreseeable future, citing the detention of a British national in Iran, Andrew Pyke, as the reason. Pyke was released in February 1982 and in July the Iranian government sent three high-ranking officers to inspect the "Kharg". On 10 July 1984, "Kharg" arrived at Tyne Shiprepairers for overhaul and it started sea trials on 4 September. "Kharg" left the dock for Iran on 5 October 1984, after the British government approved its export without any armaments on the grounds that it was "not suitable for use in the war against Iraq".