In a major diplomatic win for India, Iran has agreed to release the remaining 16 Indian crew members of the seized Israeli ship. “All Indian crewmen on MSC Aries seized by Iran are free to return,” Iran’s Embassy in New Delhi said.
Notably, the consular access has given to the Indian nationals on Monday, April 15. The
Iranian Embassy said that it is up to captain to release the Indians and other crew.
Earlier in the day, Indian deck cadet Ann Tessa Joseph, who was among the 17 Indian
crew members of the Israeli ship MSC Aries which was seized by Iran, on Thursday landed
safely at the Cochin International Airport.
“With the concerted efforts of Indian Mission in Tehran and the Iranian Government,
Indian deck cadet Ms. Ann Tessa Joseph from Thrissur, Kerala, who was among the Indian
crew members of container vessel MSC Aries, has landed safely at the Cochin International Airport today afternoon. At the airport, Ms. Joseph was received by the Regional Passport Officer, Cochin,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
On Sunday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein
Amir-Abdollahian. During the telephonic conversation with Amir-Abdollahian, Jaishankar
took up the matter of the release of 17 Indian crew members of the Israel-linked ship
‘MSC Aries’.
Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister had informed Jaishankar during the telephone conversation
that they are following up on the details related to the detained ship and soon the
possibility of representatives of the Indian government meeting with the crew of the
mentioned ship will be provided, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said.
The ship was seized by Iran on Saturday amid escalating tensions with Israel. Iran has
been threatening retaliation following an airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus,
which resulted in the death of seven people, including two high-ranking Iranian generals.
Tehran labelled the attack as retaliation for what it called ‘Israeli crimes’. Meanwhile, Israel has not officially confirmed nor denied its involvement in the strike.
