Iran has released all crew members of the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship MSC Aries, which included 17 Indian nationals among its 25-member crew. This development comes after diplomatic discussions between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, where they discussed bilateral ties and regional developments.
The MSC Aries, linked to Israel, was seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy on April 13 near the Strait of Hormuz. Among the 17 Indian crew members was Ann Tessa Joseph from Thrissur, Kerala, who safely returned to India on April 18.
The Ministry of External Affairs of India confirmed that the crew members are safe and that one individual has already returned home. Iranian Ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, clarified that the crew members are not detained and are free to leave once their contractual obligations are fulfilled.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar engaged in discussions with Iranian authorities regarding the release of the Indian crew members, emphasizing the importance of maritime safety and compliance with regulations.
In response to Estonia’s request for the release of the seized vessel and its crew, Iran stated that it had released all crew members on humanitarian grounds. Amirabdollahian highlighted the necessity of maritime rules and regulations for ensuring maritime safety.
Sources By Agencies
