Iran to grant India access to crew of Israeli-linked ship taken in Strait of Hormuz
Indian diplomats will “soon” be allowed to meet the crew of an Israel-linked cargo ship confiscated by Iran, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized the Portuguese-flagged cargo ship MSC Aries on Saturday.
It carried a crew of 25, 17 of whom are Indian. New Delhi has contacted Tehran to seek their release.
Yesterday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry acknowledged that India has requested assistance from Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.
“Dr Amirabdollahian said in this regard that we are following up on the details of the seized ship and soon it will be possible for representatives of the Indian government to meet the crew,” the ministry said.
The incident took place on the day Tehran launched 300 missiles and combat drones in retaliation for Israel’s air attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus on April 1.
The Mediterranean Shipping Company said the vessel was taken over by Iranian security forces near the Strait of Hormuz and diverted towards Iran.
A video showed a group of commandos boarding the ship from a helicopter.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar expressed concern over the crew’s health in a phone call to Mr Amirabdollahian.
“Spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Amirabdollahian. Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of the MSC Aries. Discussed the current situation in the region,” Mr Jaishankar said on X yesterday.
He also called for restraint in the Middle East.
“Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy. Agreed to remain in touch,” Mr Jaishankar said.