Iran releases 5 Indian sailors from seized MSC Aries ship
- In Reports
- 11:58 AM, May 10, 2024
- Myind Staff
In a diplomatic breakthrough, five of the Indian sailors on board an Israeli-linked vessel seized by Tehran were released on Thursday and have departed from Iran, the Indian embassy in Iran said.
Providing information about their release, the Indian Embassy also expressed gratitude to the Iranian authorities for their close cooperation with the Embassy and Indian Consulate in Bandar Abbas.
“5 of the Indian sailors on MSC Aries have been released and departed from Iran today evening. We appreciate the Iranian authorities for their close coordination with the Embassy and Indian Consulate in Bandar Abbas, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
The Israel-linked cargo ship was seized by Iran on April 13, with 17 Indian nationals onboard. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy seized the container ship near the Strait of Hormuz and MSC Aries was last seen on April 12, sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Dubai.
Among the 17 Indian crew members of the MSC Aries, Ann Tessa Joseph, the only female cadet, was released on April 18. Her release came about as a result of collaborative efforts between the Indian mission in Tehran and the Iranian government.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that one of the 17 Indian crew members returned safely to India. The others will be released once their contractual obligations are fulfilled, it had stated.
"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," Jaiswal had said on April 25.
With the latest release, the remaining 11 Indian sailors still remain in Iran.
Iran's Ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, clarified that the Indian crew members of the MSC Aries are not being held and are at liberty to depart.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar engaged in a discussion with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian following the seizure of the vessel and brought up the release of the 17 Indian crew members.
Image source: X
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