The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Will allow Indian officials to meet 17 crew members: Iran
IRANIAN FOREIGN minister Hossein Amir-abdollahian has said that Tehran will ‘soon’ allow Indian authorities to meet 17 Indian crew members of a cargo vessel that was seized by Iran's military near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.
Amir-abdollahian conveyed this to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during a telephonic conversation on Sunday, according to an Iranian foreign ministry statement.
It said Amir-abdollahian also apprised details of Iran's “legitimate defence” and punitive measures against the Israeli regime, in a reference to Tehran's missile and drone attacks on the Jewish nation.
The Iranian foreign minister urged the Indian government to maintain its active role through international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, to halt the war in gaza as it is at the core of the current crisis in the region, the statement said.
In the talks, Jaishankar called for the release of the Indians onboard the Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel MSC Aries.
The Indian foreign minister expressed concern about the situation of 17 Indian crew members and sought assistance from Iran in this matter, the Iranian statement said.
“We are actively monitoring the situation concerning the seized ship, and arrangements will soon be made for representatives of the Indian government to meet with the crew members of the vessel in question,” it quoted Amir-abdollahian as saying.
Special Naval Forces of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) seized 'MSC Aries' reportedly in view of its links with Israel.
Hours after the Iranian action, White House National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the ship's crew consisted of Indian, Filipino, Pakistani, Russian and Estonian nationals.