Iran to permit Indian officials to meet 17 crew members on seized ship soon

PTC News Desk:  In the recent development Iran's assurance to allow Indian officials to meet with 17 Indian crew members aboard a seized Israel-linked ship soon. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian conveyed this decision to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Amirabdollahian assured Jaishankar that Tehran would facilitate a meeting between Indian government officials and the crew of the MSC Aries, which was seized by the Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz. During a phone call, Jaishankar expressed concern about the crew's situation and requested assistance from Iran.

Spoke to Iranian FM @Amirabdolahian this evening.

Took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries.

Discussed the current situation in the region. Stressed the importance of avoiding escalation, exercising restraint and returning to diplomacy.

Agreed to remain… — Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) April 14, 2024

The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that Amirabdollahian informed Jaishankar about Iran's ongoing efforts regarding the seized cargo ship and assured that Indian officials would soon have access to the crew. The incident involving the ship's seizure occurred on April 13 near the Strait of Hormuz, with footage showing commandos raiding the vessel by helicopter. This incident followed Iran's retaliation against Israel for an earlier Israeli strike on an Iranian embassy in Damascus.

Just concluded a conversation with Israel FM @Israel_katz.

Shared our concern at the developments yesterday.

Discussed the larger regional situation. Agreed to stay in touch. — Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) April 14, 2024

Amirabdollahian defended Iran's actions as "legitimate defense" during the phone call with Jaishankar and emphasised the need to reduce tensions in the region. He urged India to play a role through international institutions, including the UN Security Council, to address the situation in Gaza and end the Israeli offensive.

Jaishankar echoed the importance of reducing tensions and urged all parties to exercise restraint. He highlighted the need for diplomacy to resolve the tensions between Iran and Israel.

Additionally, Jaishankar stated that he discussed the situation with both Iranian and Israeli counterparts separately. He emphasised the importance of avoiding escalation and returning to diplomacy in the region.

The article concludes by mentioning the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel in the context of the broader conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in significant casualties.

- With inputs from agencies