The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Indian on board ship held by Iran speaks to brother: ‘Enough food, doing duties as usual’
FOR THE first time since an Israellinked cargo ship ‘MSC Aries’ was seized by Iran’s military near the strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman on April 13, one of the 17 Indian sailors on board the ship was allowed to speak to his brothermondayeveningafterthe Indianembassyiniranintervened.
Michael, the brother of one of the sailors, told The Indian Express, “He spoke for about 30 minutes yesterday (Monday) evening reportedly after Indian officials visited the Iranian officers guarding the ship. They seem to have made a request to allow the crew to use phones and laptops for an hour every day. They were in custody and not allowed to use any communication equipment.”
According to him, his brother assured the family they were not harmed by Iranian officers. “They have a proper supply and enough stock of food. The ship is anchored off the coast of Bandar Abbas Port. He said they are performing operational duties on board as usual,” Michael stated.
“We are worried about his safety as tensions in that region seem to be escalating. We hope that the Indian authorities will take immediate steps for their rescue and return to India. We are waiting for a response (from the Indian authorities),” he added.
The ship, with 25 crew members on board, owned by an Israeli businessman and flying the Portuguese flag, was reportedly leased for operations by a
Swiss company. Among the 17 Indians are four Tamils. An official with the Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Non-resident Tamils said two of the Tamils on the ship are from Thoothukudi, one from Cuddalore, and another from Mannargudi.
The Tamil Nadu government has written to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) seeking information and help for the crew members on board the ship, which was headed for India.
The ship’s capture comes amid tensions between Israel and Iran, which escalated following an Israeli airstrike on April 1 on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, killing 16 people, including senior officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar dialled his Iranian counterpart H Amir Abdollahian and demanded the release of all the 17 Indian crew members. “Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint, and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch,” Jaishankar had tweeted.