An Indian woman who was a crew member on the MSC Aries container vessel seized by Iran on April 13 has returned to the country, India’s foreign ministry says.
The ministry says that its mission in Tehran is in touch with 16 other Indian crew members still aboard the vessel, which was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The crew members are in good health and in contact with their family members in India,” the ministry says in a statement.
The Israel-linked vessel was seized days after Tehran vowed to retaliate for what it said was an Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus.
Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar spoke to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian this week seeking the release of the Indian crew members.
Iran’s foreign ministry said that the MSC Aries was seized for “violating maritime laws,” adding that there was no doubt the vessel was linked to Israel. MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.
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