Iran on Friday (May 3) released all the crew members that were aboard the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship MSC Aries. Out of the 25 crew members, 17 were Indians. The development came following a telephonic conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Estonian counterpart Margus Tsahkna on Friday......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
During the telephonic conversation, both sides discussed the recent state of bilateral ties and regional developments, said the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards had seized the ship on April 13 in the Strait of Hormuz.
As per the Iranian state-run IRNA news agency, a Guards helicopter had boarded and taken into Iranian waters the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries.
Shipping security agencies had earlier reported a vessel being boarded and seized by “regional authorities” in the Hormuz Strait between the United Arab Emirates and Iran.
Earlier, Ann Tessa Joseph from Thrissur, Kerala, who was aboard the Israel-linked cargo ship, was released and she reached back home safely on April 18.
Recently, India’s Ministry of External Affairs released a statement sharing an update about Joseph’s return which further added that the rest of the Indian crew members were safe and that they will be released once their contractual obligations are completed.
“One girl who was there has returned. We had asked for consular access for these 16 people and we received that and our officers met them. Their health is good and there is no problem of any kind on the ship. Concerning their return, there are some technicalities and contractual obligations. Once they are done, it will decide their return,” MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal said in a weekly press briefing on April 25.
Iranian Ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, also said that the Indian crew members were not detained and that they were free to go.
Responding to the request of the Estonian side regarding the Portuguese ship, Amirabdollahian said, “The ship, which turned off its radar in the territorial waters of Iran and endangered the security of navigation, is detained under judicial rules.”
Earlier today, during the telephone discussion between Iranian and Estonian officials, Iran stated that it “has already released all the ship’s crew members on humanitarian grounds, and if the ship’s captain accompanies them, the crew including the Estonians can return to their country.”
(With inputs from agencies)