Iran freed seven of the 25 crew on a Portuguese-flagged ship that was seized in the Gulf on April 13, Portugal’s foreign ministry said on Thursday. Five Indians, a Filipino and an Estonian from the MSC Aries were released, the ministry said in a statement.
Portugal welcomed the action but asked for the “immediate release” of the remaining 17 crew. Iran said the container ship had Israeli links when it was seized. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard last month seized the Israel-linked Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, which was manned by several Indians, near the Strait of Hormuz amid tensions with Israel in the wake of the Gaza war.
READ MORE: Indian Woman, Part Of Seized Cargo Ship’s Crew, Returns Home From Iran
Ann Tessa Joseph, the only female cadet among the 17 Indian crew members of the MSC Aries, was released on April 18 after extensive efforts by the Indian mission in Tehran and the Iranian government. She arrived back in India on the same day and was welcomed by the Regional Passport Officer at Cochin International Airport in Kerala. After the release of five more crew members, now eleven more Indians remain with Iran. However, the Indian government is yet to confirm this figure.
Last week, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Iran has released the crew of a seized Portuguese-flagged ship linked to Israel but remains in control of the vessel itself. He said the release of the crew was a humanitarian act and they could return to their countries along with the ship’s captain. Iran’s foreign ministry had earlier said the Aries was seized for “violating maritime laws” and that there was no doubt it was linked to Israel.
READ MORE: Crew Of MSC Aries Will Be Released Soon, Says Iran In Relief To Indians Held Aboard Seized Vessel
MSC reportedly leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping — an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime — partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. Increasing attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthis, claiming solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s war on Gaza, have affected global shipping networks.
(With agency inputs)
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