Iran releases seven MSC Aries crew members
Five Indian nationals, a Filipino and an Estonian are free to go home. The Portuguese-flagged container ship was seized near the Strait of Hormuz on 13 April. Diplomats are working to free the remaining 17 crew members.
New Delhi (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Yesterday Iran released some members of the crew of the MSC Aries, a Portuguese-flagged, Israeli-owned container ship, which it had seized near the Strait of Hormuz on 13 April.
Portugal’s Foreign Ministry made the announcement last night, noting that seven people (out of 25) were “freed today”. Five are Indian nationals, a Filipino and an Estonian. An Indian female crew member was freed earlier.
The Indian Embassy in Iran confirmed that the Indian sailors left Iran for home.
“We appreciate the Iranian authorities for their close coordination with the Embassy and Indian Consulate in Bandar Abbas,” Minister of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
For its part, Portugal demanded the "immediate release" of the remaining 17 crew members.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Navy seized the MSC Aries off the coast of Dubai, claiming that its owners were linked to Israel.
“It is certain that this ship belongs to the Zionist regime,” an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said at the time.
The one crew member released earlier, Ann Tessa Joseph, from India, returned to Kerala on 18 April.
“We had asked for consular access for these 16 people and we received that and our officers met them,” Jaiswal said late last month about the crew.
“Their health is good and there is no problem of any kind on the ship. Concerning their return, there are some technicalities and contractual obligations. Once they are done, it will decide their return," the MEA official added.
The foreign ministers of Portugal and Iran spoke on the phone 10 days ago.
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04/09/2008
