Results for: MSC Aries

In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, the Indian embassy in Iran announced the release of five Indian sailors who were aboard an Israeli-linked vessel seized by Iran. The sailors have since departed from Iran. The embassy expressed gratitude to Iranian authorities for their close coordination with the Indian Consulate in Bandar Abbas.

The release of the Indian sailors comes after months of negotiations between India and Iran. In April, Iran seized the Israeli-linked cargo ship MSC Aries with 17 crew members on board, including the five Indian sailors. The remaining 12 crew members, including citizens from other countries, were released earlier.

The Indian government had been working tirelessly to secure the release of its sailors. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian about the matter. The Indian embassy in Iran also maintained close contact with the Iranian authorities.

The release of the Indian sailors is a positive development in the relationship between India and Iran. It demonstrates the importance of diplomatic dialogue and cooperation in resolving issues.

Iran has released all crew members of the Portuguese-flagged cargo vessel MSC Aries, including 17 Indian nationals and an Estonian cadet, Ann Tessa Joseph. The release followed a phone conversation between Iranian Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian and his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna. The vessel was seized by Iran’s military on April 13 for allegedly turning off its radar in Iranian territorial waters and endangering navigation security. Abdollahian stated that the ship is detained under judicial rules, but the crew members were released on humanitarian grounds. If the ship’s captain accompanies them, the crew, including the Estonians, can return to their home countries.

The Iranian seizure of the MSC Aries cargo ship has brought renewed attention to the escalating attacks on merchant ships and seafarers in the Middle East. The industry has called on the United Nations to provide enhanced military protection for supply chains in the region. The ship was seized on April 13, 50 nautical miles off the United Arab Emirates coast, and is reportedly carrying over 22 metric tons of potassium nitrate, a chemical product used as fertilizer in agricultural projects, to customers in Uzbekistan.