Iran will release Indian crew from hijacked Ship
One of the 17 Indian sailors who were on board the Portugal-flagged MSC Aries, detained by Iranian authorities recently, has made it back home to Kerala, according to an announcement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Ann Tessa Joseph, who lives in Thrissur, was welcomed at Cochin International Airport when she arrived from Iran on April 18.
The MEA informed that the Indian Mission in Tehran is actively handling the situation and staying in touch with the remaining 16 Indian crew members of the container vessel. They reassured me that the crew members were in good health and were in contact with their families in India. The MEA is working to ensure the well-being of these Indian sailors in Iranian custody. Earlier, Iranian authorities claimed that the cargo vessel had violated international maritime laws.
Meanwhile, Iran’s ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, clarified in an interview with The Hindu on April 18 that Indian sailors are not detained but are under the authority of the ship’s captain. He stated that Iran is in direct contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran and that the Indian citizens are in good condition. He mentioned that due to bad weather and stormy seas, they haven’t been able to come ashore yet, but they are free to leave Iran whenever they choose.
On April 13, the ship was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, who descended from a helicopter onto the ship and directed it towards an Iranian base. Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz labelled this Iranian action as a “pirate operation” and urged the European Union and the free world to declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps as a terrorist organization and impose sanctions on Iran.
Returning the other 16 Indians, who are still aboard the MSC Aries at sea, poses a more complex situation. Although no charges have been filed against the crew members, the ship itself has been impounded, and the crew would require another ship to help them come ashore. Additionally, the Aries cannot be left unmanned, so some crew members must remain. After India’s strong request, including intervention from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, the Iranian government made an exception for the female cadet and ensured that other crew members could speak with their families in India.
After news spread that at least 17 Indian sailors were among the crew of the MSC Aries, owned by Zodiac Maritime, headquartered in London and owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer, the MEA initiated dialogue with Iranian authorities through both the Indian embassy in Tehran and the Iranian embassy in India to secure the release of the Indian crew members.
Subsequently, Mr. Jaishankar reached out to his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, seeking Tehran’s assistance in ensuring the early release of the Indian crew members.
The interception of the MSC Aries added to tensions between Iran and Israel, leading to Iran’s first-ever drone and missile attack on multiple targets in Israel. By seizing the ship in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran hinted at its military capability to disrupt maritime traffic through this strategically important route in case of further escalation between Tehran and Tel Aviv. This incident also escalates the ongoing Red Sea crisis. Since the start of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Houthi rebels in Yemen have targeted Israeli-linked commercial shipping with ballistic missiles and drones on the high seas.
