Thu. Mar 28th, 2024
IranIran

New Delhi, July 26: Iran has released 9 out of twelve Indian crews from a Panama-hailed tanker captured about fourteen days ago in the Strait of Hormuz, Indian foreign minisry has said on Friday

MEA Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said those freed “will be on their way to India soon”.

“Our mission in Iran has requested the concerned Iranian authorities for the release of remaining crew members,” he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.

There was no prompt remark by Iranian authorities.

Iran had blamed the vessel, the MT Riah, of smuggling crude oil when it seized in mid-July in the midst of rising strains among Iran and the United States in the deliberately significant Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most significant oil supply route.

The Iranian foreign ministry at the time has stated oil tanker that had disappeared in the Gulf had technical challenges and was towed into Iranian waters for fixes.

The arrival of the nine crews implies there are at any rate 21 other Indians who stay in Iranian confinement, including three others from the MT Riah and 18 from the British-hailed Stena Impero tanker which was seized by Iranian powers a week ago.

“All 18 Indian crew members on board are safe and doing fine. Will continue to push for their early release,” V Muraleedharan, India’s junior foreign minister, said on Twitter.

“Crew’s morale is high. Assured all assistance for early release. HCI London will facilitate necessary travel document and related arrangements,” the minister tweeted.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *