Iran Responsive To India’s Call For Release Of 17 Indians Aboard Seized Ship, Says S Jaishankar

New Delhi: In the wake of the Israel-Iran tension, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said India has urged Iran to release 17 Indians onboard a Portuguese cargo vessel seized by the Iranian military, and Tehran was quite responsive. He said there have been some follow-up conversations between the Indian embassy and Iranian authorities.

Addressing the growing concern, Foreign Minister Jaishankar reassured, stating, “Yesterday night, I spoke to my Iranian counterpart (Hossein Amir-Abdollahian). I pressed him. I told him there are 17 crew members from India. We are making the point with the Iranian government that these people should be released, that they should not be detained”.

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

On Saturday, the Iranian military captured a cargo ship with Israeli connections near the Strait of Hormuz, with 17 Indian crew members onboard. Jaishankar expressed the need for proactive engagement regarding the seized ship situation, saying, “I’m getting some reports but I want our embassy people to actually go there and meet these people. That will be my first point of satisfaction”, PTI quoted Jaishankar as saying.

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According to PTI, Jaishankar further mentioned, “I would absolutely press for the people to come back to India as quickly as we can and my colleague in the Iranian counterpart was quite responsive. He said okay, I understand it. I will try and do something really good”.

Jaishankar Held Conversation With Iranian FM

External Affairs Minister on Sunday engaged in a conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, addressing critical issues including the plight of Indian crew members aboard the seized cargo ship ‘MSC Aries’.